Perhaps one of the most memorable scenes this year, will be a young 21 year old from India, fist pumping his way into the record books and joining a hand full of Indian golfers who have EVER made it into the PGA Tour. Shubhankar finished T-9 at the recently concluded WGC championship in Mexico; and needless to say his heroics did not go un noticed.
3 days later, Shubhankar is invited to play at nothing less than the 2018 Masters held in Augusta National. The story of this young professional from India is truly inspirational. At only the tender age of 21, he is accomplishing more than what many seasoned Indian Golf Professionals have in a life time.
What is interesting to me, is the impact that this is going to have on the game in India. It is no secret that the future of golf lies with the developing world. These markets provide some of the largest captive audience of youngsters, and some of the highest growth rates in disposable income. India alone is a captive market of 267 million households (2016) and this figure is said to double by 2024. It is the growth of these households that will lead to to the development of golf in the country.
Though this may look attractive, for the sport to actually develop, players children to be galvanized and energized to pursue the sport into the professional level.
I feel a suitable parallel can be drawn to snooker, shooting or wrestling. The popularity of the sport is covered by the success of the individuals participating in it. This is the fate of golf in the country. For the sport to truly develop, we need many more Shubhankar's to shine on the domestic and international stage. Countries like Thailand are ahead of India in terms of sheer number of golfers who are breaking into the international circuit. At present there are over 21 players on the international (European and PGA circuit) this is quite remarkable. I believe India is not far behind.
Shubhankars entry to the masters can be to golf, what Pankaj Advani's win was to billiards, what Vishwanathan Anand's win was to chess and what Sumit Rathore's win was to shooting. It has shown golfers in the country that a path to success is available and it is not as shrouded in mystery as was once thought. It is clear and beckoning many more professionals to follow suit.
3 days later, Shubhankar is invited to play at nothing less than the 2018 Masters held in Augusta National. The story of this young professional from India is truly inspirational. At only the tender age of 21, he is accomplishing more than what many seasoned Indian Golf Professionals have in a life time.
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| Shubhankar's Invitation to participate in the masters |
What is interesting to me, is the impact that this is going to have on the game in India. It is no secret that the future of golf lies with the developing world. These markets provide some of the largest captive audience of youngsters, and some of the highest growth rates in disposable income. India alone is a captive market of 267 million households (2016) and this figure is said to double by 2024. It is the growth of these households that will lead to to the development of golf in the country.
Though this may look attractive, for the sport to actually develop, players children to be galvanized and energized to pursue the sport into the professional level.
I feel a suitable parallel can be drawn to snooker, shooting or wrestling. The popularity of the sport is covered by the success of the individuals participating in it. This is the fate of golf in the country. For the sport to truly develop, we need many more Shubhankar's to shine on the domestic and international stage. Countries like Thailand are ahead of India in terms of sheer number of golfers who are breaking into the international circuit. At present there are over 21 players on the international (European and PGA circuit) this is quite remarkable. I believe India is not far behind.
Shubhankars entry to the masters can be to golf, what Pankaj Advani's win was to billiards, what Vishwanathan Anand's win was to chess and what Sumit Rathore's win was to shooting. It has shown golfers in the country that a path to success is available and it is not as shrouded in mystery as was once thought. It is clear and beckoning many more professionals to follow suit.
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