When Sunit Chawrasia walks on the golf greens, he reminds many of his famous uncle S.S.P. Chawrasia. The 22-year-old, who made his professional debut in the ongoing PGTI Cochin Masters in Nedumbassery, clearly has a lot of S.S.P. in him.
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“Everybody tells me that I walk like my uncle, that my style of golf and swing are similar to his. He is a good chip-putter, I am not as good as him,” said the Kolkata youngster who made the cut for the main rounds here at the CIAL Golf Club on Thursday.
“It really feels good when people say that I play like my uncle…but there is no pressure.”
S.S.P. is an Olympian, he played at Rio in 2016 when golf made a return to the Olympic fold after 112 years. He is also one of the two Indians to have won four titles on the European Tour, the other being Jeev Milkha Singh.
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Incidentally, S.S.P. was introduced to golf by his elder brother Bijay Prasad — Sunit’s father — and now the family’s best golfer is closely involved with the youngster’s career and progress. “My uncle plays with me at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, which is close to our house, whenever he comes down, sometimes thrice a month. He advises me about my career, helps me with my swing and even supports me,” said Sunit, who comes from the Tollygunge area in Kolkata.
Sunit was very impressive in the PGTI’s Qualifying School this year, finishing seventh, and was among the only two amateurs to finish in the top ten. So one felt he should have probably waited and tried to play this year’s Asian Games in Jakarta in August before turning pro.
Uncle’s advice
“I decided not to play the Asian Games, where golf is only for amateurs, because my uncle told me to skip it as I was starting my pro year, after four years in the amateur circuit. He made the big decision for me,” revealed Sunit.
“Of course I would have loved to play the Asian Games because they come only once in four years but I’m also very excited to play in the pro circuit. And I also hear that the Asian Games would be open to pros from 2022 so I may get a chance later.”
For now, Sunit has set an ambitious goal of a top-five finish in the PGTI this season. “I think it is possible, I also want to play the PGA, European and Asian tours and try to get into the top 60 in the world rankings within the next five years,” said the young man who adores Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, the former World No. 2.
Sunit appears to be in a hurry and clearly he has the talent to back him.
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