From a Correspondent
Chonburi, Thailand: The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is a major landmark for young amateur golfers, and no different for their parents, too.
Former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra, now a regular TV commentator would have been in Australia for the T20 World Cup.
Instead, he chose to skip a week of cricket duty to be his son, Krishnav’s caddie this week at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand.
“This is a big moment for him. The AAC is easily the best-known amateur event in Asia with a massive incentive for those winning it. Imagine playing for a spot at Augusta Masters and The Open,” said Chopra.
“So, when Krishnav got an invite for this tournament (based on his World Amateur Golf Ranking) I knew where I was going to be that week.”
Nikhil did commentary duty for a match in Australia before coming to Bangkok. He will return to Australia at the end of the week after his son’s event ends.
Krishnav is one of the seven Indians in the field for the tournament that gives the winner a spot at the Augusta Masters and The Open.
The others are Rayhan Thomas, Aryan Roopa Anand, Milind Soni, Arjun Gupta, Shaurya Bhattacharya and Shat Mishra.
Krishnav is thrilled to have his Dad and idol on the bag this week. He said, “He’s here with me right now. He’s going to be caddying for me the rest of the week.”
Hanging out
Father and son love playing and hanging out at golf courses together.
“I mean, it’s a two‑way thing. He’s going to be carrying the bag, and he’s going to help me with yardages and lines and just keep the normal banter we always have.“
Krishnav, now playing college golf at Long Beach State University, says he is learning a lot from Nikhil.
“For sure whatever he’s gone through at an early stage, whatever mistakes he’s made, he’s always looked out for that so that I don’t make those mistakes. He’s now a cricket commentator and he still loves to play golf.
“I’ve learned a lot from him, whether it’s respect and manners on the golf course or anywhere. It’s just that I look up to him a lot.”
Travelling long distances for golf does not faze Krishnav, “I played my first practice round today. Got into the driving range after a 25‑hour flight from Los Angeles.
“The course is in pristine condition. It’s nice. The weather is not that bad. You just have to keep popping liquids every two or three holes.”
On the weather and the course, he added, “In India, it’s just a little more humid than this sometimes. It’s hot for everyone.”
Mud balls
“It’s playing to about 7,500 (yards). Fairways are a little soft. Mud balls in the morning.”
So far, this has been a good year for Krishnav. “I played some golf over the start of the year. I won the AJGA in Texas. Played well in the Dustin Johnson (Invitational).
“I won my first amateur event in my home golf club (Delhi Golf Club), and went through college golf, got into Long Beach State and played the first two, three tournaments over there.
“We finished first in the two tournaments over there, and the last one we came tied fifth. I played well as an individual, too. Came in top 15 in the first two tournaments.”
“It’s been a good summer and I’ve been working hard with my coach, Dana Dahlquist, in L.A. at Long Beach and in the gym.”
Once he is through with his golf, which has just about started, Krishnav would love to be a golf commentator, following in his father’s footsteps.
But, for now he is soaking it in and enjoying the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club.
It may be hot and humid for some, but not for the younger Chopraa, who spells his name with an extra ‘a’. And, he is bursting with extra energy, too.
Also read: Delhi pals Mishra, Bhattacharya in 7-man Indian team at AAC
Also read:
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.