The year 2016 was a watershed for golf and everything it stood for. 2016 In Indian Golf saw a new pool of winners. Indians surpassed their own expectations to deliver a game of class. In the process they have widened the pool of its winners. These vary from the comeback stories of Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, to Anirban Lahiri being selected one of the top thirty players to watch out by PGA Tour. Men’s golf rode on stellar victories by SSP Chawrasia, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chikka and Khalin on the home tours. For women, Aditi Ashok outshone her game and India’s capabilities with a solid display of work at Hero Women’s Indian Open as well as Qatar Ladies Masters. She was named the Rookie of the Year at the Ladies European Tour.
2016 In Indian Golf Has Showcase A New Pool Of Winners
The good news is we have had two wonderful years of golf coming of age. 2015 saw Anirban Lahiri lead the charge from the front. He got himself in the world’s top fifty and winning three tournaments to secure himself an American golf journey. Lahiri’s game in 2016 was stable with some patches of brilliance.
GAGAN’S COMEBACK
Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has moved to Sacramento on West Coast USA has witnessed a career resurgence. The long hitter worked on his short game and revived his approach to golf and his mind. He made a big comeback with wins in Korea and then in Indonesia. The otherwise reticent Kapurthala boy is playing more on the Asian Tour with some appearances on the European Tour in 2017.
MUKESH’S MAGIC
Mukesh Kumar, who is among the best dressed veterans (often seen in pink trousers on the course) picked a win towards the end of the season at Panasonic Open. This may have made him the senior most to have won on the Asian Tour. At 51, he is in full swing and is all set to play full season in Asia through 2017. Performances by Jeev Milkha Singh such as trailing Gaganjeet at the BankBRI Indonesian Masters was closely watch. Singh remained impressed by his year end finish.
WATCH Jeev Milkha Singh Interview Here
YOUTH POWER
Youngsters Khalin Joshi and Chikkarangappa picked wins on the domestic tour. Chikka had had breakthrough victory on the Asian Development Tour in 2014 when he won the inaugural TAKE Solutions India Masters on his home course in Bangalore. He also picked the Eagleburg Open in September 2016 followed by TAKE Open Championship in October. Khalin got the Classic Championship in August.
