After earning an Asian tour card last month, young Indian golfer S Chikkarangappa is now taking tips from seasoned Anirban Lahiri and said he wants to give a good account of himself at next week's Indian Open to launch his career in Asia on a positive note.
Chikka, who finished second on the PGTI's Rolex Rankings in 2013 and 2014, along with Angad Cheema and Abhijit Singh Chadha, earned a maiden Asian Tour card last month and said competing against top golfers from Europe and Asia will give him confidence and momentum.
"Having a tournament like Indian Open first up helps a lot as all top players from Europe and Asia come and play here and to play in that field gives confidence and momentum for us to go ahead," Chikka told reporters.
"A good sign is that Indians keep wining at Delhi Golf Club. When people come to play here for first time, the DGC knocks them out mentally, it is a huge faraway. Mentally you really need to be fit in there. So since we have played there so many times, so we know how to go in there and play.
"So I would stick to my game plan and like to give a good account of myself in Indian Open, so that it can help me to take the next step. I took some tips from Anirban about how to go about in the Asian Tour, what are my targets, expectations. I had a chat with him and with my coach and I will stick to that," he added.
The 21-year-old Chikka made up for the disappointment of missing out on his Asian Tour card by one shot last year by finishing fourth with a total of nine-under 276 in only his second attempt at the Qualifying School.
"It was a great feeling to earn an Asian Tour card. I had good seasons in the last two years but I missed the Asian Tour card by one stroke on my maiden attempt last year. It was a year where I won three titles and also the Asian Development Tour, so I did well," he said.
