Golfers' champion

Vijay Singh speaks up for more corporate support for Indian golfers

Indian professional golf is an enigma. While golf writers may claim that the game is on the upswing with each passing season, the fact of the matter is that new talent is coming only in trickles. While there are youngsters with potential, they haven't really been able to put their wares on display beyond the Indian shores.

Since the Asian Tour was organised in 1995, only a few Indians have won titles in that circuit. Of course, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal have won more than once. But others like Gaurav Ghei and Feroze Ali have each figured on it only once.

Since 2002, the only new names on the winners' list have been Vijay Kumar, Harmeet Kahlon and Rahil Gangjee. Both Vijay and Harmeet are hardly newcomers, having been around in the circuit for a while. Gangjee, on the other hand, had been going through a tough phase until, by stroke of luck, he won one weekend in China.

There is a concern that Indian golf could well stagnate if something is not done about it soon. This fear was rekindled last week when Vijay Singh, during his visit to India, sounded a warning in that direction.

Two years ago, when Vijay came to India for the inaugural BILT Skins Challenge, he had casually inquired after names of some upcoming golfers. One of the names mentioned to him was that of Ashok Kumar, who during the same time had turned professional after being India's No.1 amateur player.

When he came for the next edition of the Skins Challenge last week, Vijay inquired about what had happened to "that boy". His caddie, Amritinder Singh, a well-known pro on the Indian Tour, told him that he was now India's No. 1 professional.

The next logical question from Vijay was: "So, why is he not playing more on the Asian Tour?" Vijay was told that Ashok can't afford to pay for the expenses because he lacked sponsorship.

During an interaction with the media, Vijay brought up his exchange with Amritinder and said "It was indeed unfortunate that he (Ashok Kumar) was not playing more on the Asian Tour because of lack of sponsorship. That is a shame."

He added: "It is sad that not enough players are coming out of India at the moment." While many may think that Indian golf is making a big impression on Asian golf, the fact of the matter is that Vijay made the Indian golfing community sit back and think.

"You need at least two to three new players coming up and players are doing well every year. We need to back the talented players with funds. In the last four or five years I have not heard of even one or two names of up and coming golfers being added to the Indian golfers' list on the professional circuit," he said.

Vijay is known to be fond of Indian players. In the international circuit, he has befriended Indian pros like Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal, among others. On the eve of the 2001 Caltex Masters in Singapore, he even invited them to play a practice round with him.

On other occasions, Vijay had also invited some of the players for dinner and offered tips on golf. "If Indian golf wants to make progress, this current scenario has to change. More young golfers need to be backed," he said.

Without making a direct plea to the corporates, some of whom were sitting right beside him, Vijay made it clear that corporates need to come forward and provide the necessary support to nurture talent. Sitting on the dais with him at the meet were other stars like British Open Champion Todd Hamilton, Justin Rose and Daniel Chopra.

Industrialists at the venue included Gautam Thapar, whose brainchild is the BILT Skins Challenge, and Sanjay Labroo of Asahi Glass, which has pumped in a hefty sum to sponsor the Pro-Am event, held a day before the main Skins event. There was also Rajiv Singh, DLF vice-chairman, and on whose lovely course the event was played. Maybe Vijay's outspokenness will make them open their cheque books for Indian professionals.

While Vijay said he was disappointed at the lack of support for the Indian pros, Daniel Chopra chipped in to say that Indian corporates needed to change their outlook.

"Most companies tell the player to win some tournaments before they will sponsor him. They (corporates) need to understand that once you win tournaments you don't need sponsors because you are earning enough from the international tours," he said. "We need support on the way up and not after reaching the big stage."