Blast from the Past: Special Piece from Archives
My general shyness about not knowing much about cricket suddenly evaporated when I saw some of world’s top cricketers take to the golf course. Finally, I would now have a conversation starter. In golf. For someone who figured out the on and off-side in the cricket wicke(d)t game only during the World Cup last year, I have generally kept away from India’s favourite sport. Of course a lot of it has to do with the fact that I am more occupied with my four letter world called Golf.
Sachin Tendulkar – who I wouldn’t have the slightest access to among India’s over-flowing stream of sport (err cricket) reporters – was the first legend I got down to meeting. He was relaxed, down in Ahmedabad and away from the prying eyes of all those who only have one question – when will the master blaster retire? I of course couldn’t be bothered if he retired from cricket as long as he took to golf. After all, Indian golf could do a lot with that publicity. So here he was delighting us with driver shots after shots on the golfing range complete with his Taylormade gear (thanks to sponsor Adidas). He also participated in a putting competition with global and Indian golfers. I thought all this was a visual feast by itself until I actually got down to a conversation with him about his golf. He admitted he was surprised that he has a connect with the ball but wondered if he could repeat the super-shots consistently like he does in cricket. How very perceptive that he had already realised early enough that the game is not played as a ‘reaction’ to an oncoming ball (like cricket). It’s about your ‘action’, your strategy and mind he admitted.
At the recently concluded Golf Premier League, I spent an evening or two with SriLankan cricket star Mahela Jayawardhene, who finds golf a great getaway from his practise. No matter which city he is in, he makes it a point to go to the golf course, stretch himself a bit and regain focus. “I love the way golf refreshes you, pulls you out of the noise and brings you peach of mind,” shares Mahela whose dream is to play at St Andrew’s some time in the future. Mahela and Kumara Sangakarra do a lot of investments together – from crabs to clubs; the latest is an investment in a team, Colombo 6s in the league format of golf. Was thrilled to hear that Sri Lanka is getting big on the game as well.
At the LP Cup, just a couple of days ago I enjoyed playing with Murali Kartik, who candidly admitted he too doesn’t follow cricket when he is off the field (which are probably only a few days a year). He was also pretty patient with my ugly shots and so I liked him even more. He has taken to golf in a serious way. He drives the ball brilliantly through the fairways almost urging me to admit a little bowling eases the swing. Of course when I got back from the pro-am I wondered if I should pick up cricket to improve my golf.
Talking of pro-ams and the presence of cricketers, I remember in 2008, during the Johnny Walker Championship pro-am, I was playing with Kapil Dev, Atul Wassan and South African Anton Haig. That was two cricketers, one pro golfer and one aspiring golfer. When Kapil Dev hit the ball, we could only spot it after walking a little distance. His drive is among the longest even when compared with pro golfers. With a 25 feet birdie in a modified scramble format, I had done my bit for the team. We won the tournament thanks to Kapil Dev who humbled the games of even the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh all of who were in the pro-am field that day.
I wonder then why I run away from cricket. My golf has gained a lot from it. Perhaps very soon I will be crediting some of my improved shots to the cricketers I get paired with in my games.
Shaili Chopra
