From willows to woods

Chowrasia is a rising star in Indian golf, but hasn't forgotten his humble days as a caddie.

Watching Shiv Shanker Prasad Chowrasia on the greens of DLF Golf Club are a few caddies. One can't help but think that while standing idle and watching him tee off, the thought "Can I be the next Chowrasia?" might have crossed their minds. And you can't blame them for nursing such ambitions.

Because that is something which S S P Chowrasia's victory at the recent Indian Masters' event has inspired, or should inspire. Mention this to Chowrasia and he just laughs.

"If I could inspire people to take up this sport, then it's great," he says, although he feels that it requires more than inspiration to take up golf and make a name for yourself.

And no one knows this better than Chowrasia. Despite initial hiccups and struggles, he never gave up, even though his family was not well-off. He is happy to have broken golf's elitist tag, but knows that it is an expensive sport and considers himself lucky to have achieved what he has.

But surely he owes his success to more than luck. "I always had the belief that I can make a career out of golf and had the passion for the sport." Even today, when he steps onto the course, he is confident of taking on the best and doing well.

How has life changed after his victory in New Delhi? "I am the same old SSP but yes, there are more expectations," he says and, before I can ask the question, goes on, "but I never feel any pressure".

Confidence and belief in one's ability is the key, and he says that he now feels more confident taking on world-class players than he ever did before. Apart from pocketing a handsome sum, Chowrasia also got a three-year exemption for the European tour.

Being a caddie, he says, helped him learn the nuances of golf from close quarters. But it's difficult to expect each caddie to take up the sport. "At the end of the day it is very expensive to go out and play, something which deters a lot of them."

He believes, however, that they should get more support if they decide to take up the sport. He's doing his bit to do help and support them: there are plans to set up a fund for caddies at Kolkata's golf club where Chowrasia started playing as a kid.

It has been almost 10 years since Chowrasia turned pro. In those years he has seen both bad and good times. In fact, it was only at the 1999 Indian Open that he first burst onto the scene with a second place, although he admits that eight years ago it was more of beginner's luck. "Since then I have worked a lot on various facets of my game and have improved them."

Chowrasia is one of the few Indian golfers now who has recorded a victory on the Asian Tour as well. He was already doing well on the Indian tour and had won a lot of tournaments, but recognition still eluded him. He knows, however, how quickly things can change, especially in a game like golf.

Indian golf, over the last few years, has come of age. But Chowrasia says, "We need more golf courses and professional coaches to encourage kids to take up the sport."

He is one of the few golfers who never played on the amateur circuit, starting with pro-golf right from his early days. That is a route he doesn't prescribe for upcoming golfers. "Maybe I was just fortunate to have done well in the beginning," he says humbly.

He is now looking forward to playing on the European as well as the Asian Tour. He has been playing on the Asian Tour for some time and has come close to winning a title on a couple of occasions. "I am really looking forward to playing on the European tour," he says. "It will be difficult and challenging but offers me a chance to prove my mettle against the best."

Golf may be going through a growth phase in this country, with money coming in and golfers doing well. But it is fairytale success stories like Chowrasia's which, at the end of the day, are required to help youngsters to make the shift from willows to woods.