By Rahul Banerji
A five-month break at home will see Rahil Gangjee back in action on the Japan Tour at this week’s Token Homemate Cup in Nagoya, which begins on Thursday.
After the Japan Tour was curtailed, Gangjee returned to India and got to play in three tournaments on the Professional Golf Tour of India, where he had two top-10s and a top-2o finish.
In Japan too, Gangjee had managed just three appearances but now that JGTO the extended its 2020 season into the current year as well, he is looking forward to some regular tournament play.
“The resumption of events on the PGTI since November last year was a huge blessing for players like me,” he said recently.
“The Asian Tour, the other tour I play on, had no events during that time, so I’m grateful for just having had the opportunity to play in some events.
“You can practice as much as you want but playing a tournament is always different in terms of the focus and the feel.
“Playing on the PGTI helped me keep in touch with these important aspects of professional golf,” he told the domestic tour medic cell.
Full rights
Gangjee, who won the Panasonic Open Championship on the Japan Golf Tour in April 2018, has been plying his trade there ever since as he holds full playing rights on the tour.
However the 2020 season in Japan was cut short and as a result the two-time Asian Tour winner could only manage to play three events on the tour with a best T34 finish and 74th place on the Order of Merit.
A rejuvenated Gangjee now looks forward to good results in Japan after his trip back home to India where he had three appearances on the PGTI between December 2020 and March 2021.
While in India, Gangjee, who hails from Kolkata, also got time to work on his swing under the watchful eyes of his Delhi-based coach Ajai Gupta.
Gangjee said, “I’m making some key adjustments in my swing and being able to do that in the physical presence of my coach Ajai was important.
“I won’t be seeing him for a long time now with my hectic schedule in Japan consisting of seven events till June.
“The few days I spent with my coach in Delhi were quite reassuring even though the changes in the swing are an ongoing process and will take time to settle in.”
“Adapting quickly to the Japanese greens will be the most crucial factor for me now,” added Rahil, who has also picked up on the positive vibes of a country which just saw its maiden win at a men’s golfing Major.
Also read: Magical Matsuyama motors to Masters mantle, makes history for Asia
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