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The Rediff Interview/Amish Jaitha

'Golf is basically a sport that you play in your mind and against your own self'

The Amateur's Open, Poona Club Golf Course, 1996: There is an air of expectancy as the Indian amateur golf fraternity wakes up to the sight of a 19-year-old newcomer walking away with his first major trophy. Amish Jaitha has arrived.

The Blue Diamond Amateur's Open, Poona Club Golf Course, 1999: The Indian amateur golf fraternity discuss in hushed tones the possible migration of a 23-year-old, who currently stands atop the Indian Golf Union's rankings, to the world of professional golf. Will he, won't he? Has Amish Jaitha returned to the scene of his first big win, only to say goodbye to the amateur world? Anubha Charan caught up with the young golfer to find out for herself.

So, Amish, is this a goodbye to the world of amateur golf?

Yes! This (the Blue Diamond Amateur's Open) is my last tournament as an amateur. I should be making my debut on the professional circuit with the Hero Cup at Chandigarh from November 17.

What prompted this decision?

I think this is the right time for the change, because I am at the peak of my game. I have achieved everything that I wanted in amateur golf -- I won an international tourney in the face of near impossible competition (the Hong Kong Open last year) and have been part of an Indian team on various occasions. I have also topped the Indian Golf Union's rankings. Now I want bigger challenges.

Some people, however, are saying that you should wait...

I know. I have been told that the decision to turn pro should be deferred till the age of 27-28 years. But why? Today age is on my side as well as the required experience. So why keep sitting around, letting stagnation set in?

You have made a major comeback in the last few months after a lean 1998. How did you accomplish this?

See, in 1997-98, I was the Indian No. 2. That season I won this same tournament (the Blue Diamond Amateur's Open) and was among the top five in six other championships. The expectations became very high, and that is why when I went through a loss of form immediately after, it was much more conspicuous. But I knew that such a loss of form happens to every single sportsperson in every single sport in the world. It was only a phase, and I have come out stronger after having been through it. It has taught me a lot of things, because of which I am a much better golfer today.

Has going back to your old coach helped?

Going back to Janardhan Nigde in May is the best thing that I have done. He has been training me since I was nine years old, but in between I had started working under someone else. Also, at our annual coaching camp in Delhi in August, I met Dr. Ponzianao, an Italian, who also suggested some changes in technique which have boosted my game as well as my confidence.

You seem to be playing a much more relaxed game nowadays...

I have learnt that it is very important to quit worrying about what others - the administrators, the press, the onlookers, the competition - might be thinking about me or my game. I used to waste a lot of time and energy upon this till last year and it was bad for my game. Now I say 'Look, I am playing golf for myself and not for anyone else'. As long as I am satisfied about having given my best, I don't need to fret about others. I have also started meditating. This change in mind set has improved my game tremendously because golf is basically a sport that you play in your mind and against your own self.

Do you agree that golf is one of the most difficult sports in the world?

Golf, more than any other sport, depends on luck and natural hazards. There are so many permutations and combinations involved at every step. For example, if I have to decide which of 14 clubs to use for a shot, I will have to consider the wind, the grass, the sand bunkers, the trees, the lie... . And concentrating this way for four-and-a-half hours at a stretch is no joke! It is nowhere as simple as it looks on television.

This will only intensify when you enter the pro ranks? Are you prepared for it?

Of course! The level of competition and skill there can be a nightmare, because that's where you start playing for money. That is why I say that I want to go in now when I have age on my side, so that I have time to grow and learn. Seeing people like Jeev Milkha Singh gives me a lot of confidence since they have proven that Indians can also do well on the international scene.

What is Amish Jaitha's next stop on the international calendar?

This year I cannot play more than six events since I missed out on the season's 'Qualifying School' that takes place in June. I will now start contacting the sponsors of the various international pro tourneys and decide on the events for my debut year. Next year? I hope that the sky is the only limit!

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