Shankar lives a fairytale at home

Shankar Das could not have asked for a better fairy tale as he sealed the PGTI order of merit and year-ending Tour championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course where he picked the nuances of the game once by putting with a trimmed stem as he could not afford a club.
Shankar's family, who lived in the narrow bylanes near the third green, could not afford a golf equipment and so he trimmed a small tree branch and did putting with a plastic ball till his mother Aruna borrowed money to buy a club.
Having lost his father when he was 13, Shankar looked up to his brother Manik, 14 years senior to him, who made a big sacrifice to quit his golfing ambition for the sake of his younger brother.

Supported by his elder brother Manik who doubles up as his caddie-cum-mentor on every Tour, Shankar made the big leap forward by clinching the Rolex Rankings for the Order of Merit.
"It's not only his win but mine as well. I've quit golf for him and today I feel I was right. I hope this becomes his launch pad for Asian Tour," a teary-eyed Manik told PTI after his brother's double delight of winning both McLeod Russel Tour Championship and Rolex Player of the Year title.
Shankar too had turned emotional and missed his mother Aruna who was recovering from a back surgery.

"I'll rush to see my mom after finishing the interviews," Shankar said.

The 31-year-old carded three-under 69 in the final round for a total of 16-under 272 en route to the biggest win of his career.
Ranked third in the money list at the start of the week, Shankar finished with total earnings of INR 5,432,067 for the 2014 season and therefore overhauled Bangalore's Chikkarangappa S in the race for the Rolex Player of the Year title for Order of Merit.
Having won in front of his family members, his caddie friends, and a home crowd numbering more than a 1000, the victory could not have come at a better place.

"It's undoubtedly the biggest win for me and it could not have come at a better place. This is the best day of my life," Shankar said as he prepared to distribute golf balls among the children of his caddie friends.
"Give two-three balls each, no body should go empty handed... I've seen how difficult it is and don't want them to go through all the pain," Shankar signed off as he rushed to meet his ailing mother Aruna.