By Rahul Banerji
High-schooler Megha Ganne’s high-profile emergence on the big stage was the latest affirmation that Indian-Americans are beginning to show up regularly on the crowded US golf scene.
Whether it is in the professional ranks where a couple of young men are making a mark, collegiate competition or amateurs, the number of golfers who are Americans of Indian origin is on the rise.
More importantly, they are also making their presence felt.
Megha was the best-finishing amateur at the 2021 US Women’s Open. As much as her golf, it was her confident perseverance and instant chemistry with the gallery that was remarkable.
By the time the 17-year-old from a New Jersey town was done on the final day, she had a sizeable crowd cheering her every shot and mis-hit.
“I’ll be back” she mouthed at the noisy gallery after her final putt at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
You can bet on that.
“The world was just introduced to the future of women’s golf,” added her coach, Katie Rudolph, later.
Next wave
Next week, two highly-regarded young Indian-Americans, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala, will be in action at the men’s US Open in California,
Bhatia earned the final slot at Torrey Pines at the qualifiers at Long Clove Club in South Carolina where he won a three-for-one playoff on virtually the final hole.
The 19-year-old, who opted to turn pro rather than take the college route was the youngest member of the winning 2019 US Walker Cup team and a losing finalist in the US Junior Amateur in 2018.
Bhatia was a double medallist at the 2018 Sunner Youth Olympics and has also played in the Junior Presidents Cup and he Junior Ryder Cup.
He turned professional in September 2019.
Theegala had a storied collegiate career with Pepperdine University, who have just won the NCAA title.
Last year he was adjudged the best male college golfer along with Natalie Srinivasan, who won the Annika Award for best female college golfer.
Theegala turned pro last September and made sure of his second US Open berth at the Springfield CC final qualifier in Ohio after the Lakeside CC local qualifier in Houston.
These three are only the cream of the crop. There are more than a few of their ethnicity in the pipeline and their success underlines an issue that has vexed many for long.
Smooth system
Last May, I wrote about the success Srinivasan and Theegala had enjoyed in collegiate golf and how they had made good use of the facilities on offer – at all levels – in the United States.
Allow me to reproduce parts of that piece relevant to the present context.
“The recent crowning of Srinivasan and Theegala underlined both a happy and a sad fact for Indian golf.
“Firstly, it established that it is not geography or genetics, but facilities and opportunities that determine the career path of young golfers.
“And secondly, the country of their origin is very far away from offering its young players such platforms to achieve their potential.
“This point was driven home when the PGA Tour launched a programme designed to reward collegiate golfers with access to events it manages across the United States, Canada, Latin America and China.
“While Srinivasan was named winner of the Annika Award for best female college golfer of the season, Theegala received the Fred Haskins award for the best male university golfer of the season.
“Both Srinivasan and Theegala are children of immigrant parents whose roots lie in India.
“The PGA Tour University programme will help varsity golfers get exposure to varying levels of its tournaments, “while upholding the principles and virtues of collegiate athletics”.
“Players eligible for the PGA Tour University Ranking List will be NCAA Division I golfers who complete a minimum of four years in college.
Clear path
The tour offers exempt status to the 15 best collegiate players to the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour (Canada) and PGA Tour China Series.
The top five finishers will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership and will be exempt into all open, full-field events till the conclusion of the KFT regular season.
The top five finishers will also be exempt into the Final Stage of that year’s Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.
Finishers 6 to 15 will secure membership on one of the International Tours for the current season and a spot in the Second Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (if necessary).
At that point, these players will have their choice of which International Tour their exempt status applies to.
This is at the collegiate level.
There are programmes for children, juniors and schools, all of which combine to create an ecosystem where golf is looked at as a viable career.
It is this path that has carried Megha Ganne, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala thus far and promises to take them further, if they can cut it at the top.
Also read: Srinivasan, Theegala in running for top US collegiate golf honours
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