Two years ago, Gaganjeet Bhullar was the country’s best golfer in the world rankings at No. 85; he was winning on the Asian Tour and appeared set for a golden run. But, in the last few months, there has been one disappointment after another.
Currently sitting at No. 446 in the professional world rankings after yet another disappointment, he is now going through a very low phase. Two years ago, he and Anirban Lahiri, the world No. 34, were pushing each other hard.
So, what went wrong? “Nothing went wrong; just a few bad decisions because it is quite funny how the world ranking points work,” said Gaganjeet at the Cochin Airport Golf Club, Nedumbassery, on Tuesday. “I don’t like the way the world ranking points are distributed. The moment I got my European Tour card, I competed on the European circuit and played quite well. I was making the cuts, and comfortably playing during weekends, but didn’t finish high enough in tournaments. So, every week you slip.
“Had I been playing on the Asian Tour and even finishing in the top 10 or 20, I might have gone up. So, I think that was one bad decision, but I chose it myself. I wanted to play on the European Tour and improve as a player.”
Wrist injuryA wrist injury last year, which saw him miss around eight tournaments, meant further disappointment. “I was playing really well till last September, but I suffered a wrist injury. I am still trying to get back on tour,” said the 26-year-old, who will be one of the stars to watch at the PGTI Cochin Masters which begins on Wednesday.
“I have got limited starts for this year’s European Tour events, so I will end up playing around six to 10 events. So, let’s see. If I am good enough, I will get my card back.”
Surely, it must be very difficult, mentally, to recover from such a low? “Not at all, because I am going to play golf till the age of 45; I am only 26 now,” said the youngster from Kapurthala in Punjab. “And, I have played the last eight years as a pro, and seen many guys getting injured, slipping in the rankings, then coming back and being in contention at the majors. I think it is going to be the same for me.”
When he hit a career world ranking high of 85, Gaganjeet was one of the hot contenders for a berth in next year’s Olympics, where golf will make its return after more than a century. Now, things appear very bleak. But, Gaganjeet, who has won five Asian Tour titles, doesn’t think so.
“It is anybody’s game. Of course, Anirban is sitting relaxed on the world ranking chart, but apart from that, it could be anybody. If I win two times on the Asian Tour, I am in the team. For, the top two Indians qualify. Now, I am fourth or fifth, but one win on the Asian Tour can push up your rankings by 100 spots. My goal is to finish the year in the top 100.”
Sporting familyGaganjeet, a hockey player during his school days, comes from a sporting family. His uncle Ajit Singh, a high jumper, was an Olympian and a former Asian Games champion. His father Harbhajan Singh was an international athlete. He is also related to hockey great Pargat Singh.
With such history backing him, he will not be short on inspiration.
