Masters starters hope to boost Indian golf

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Indian-American golfers Akshay Bhatia, coming off a PGA Texas Open triumph, and Sahith Theegala, who received his first PGA title final September, hope their Masters begins can enhance India golf.

The 20-something Californians, whose households each emigrated to the USA from India, are amongst 89 gamers set to start play on Thursday at Augusta Nationwide.

“I don’t know if I fairly realise what Sahith and I can do for the golf in India,” Bhatia mentioned Monday. “I do know it’s actually particular when I’ve a bunch of followers trying as much as me, a bunch of youngsters coming as much as me.

“I feel it’s superior simply with the ability to develop the sport simply not within the States, however in India. It’s particular to us, what we are able to do for golf there’s I feel superior, and the event we are able to accomplish for individuals over there’s actually cool.”

Theegala was excited at Indian help on the Houston Open final month.

“You’re feeling prideful. It’s actually cool,” he mentioned. “In Houston a bunch of younger Indian children got here out and adopted and my dad and mom had been there they usually had been simply encouraging them.

“Most likely for a couple of of the primary instances, a pair Indian children got here up and mentioned they’re taking part in golf due to me. It’s fairly loopy to listen to that. However it’s cool and hopefully I can preserve being an inspiration.”

Bhatia’s wire-to-wire Texas Open title final week earned him the ultimate spot on this week’s Masters discipline, inflicting some last-minute modifications in plans.

The 22-year-old American is the primary participant to succeed in the finals of the junior Drive, Chip and Putt competitors at Augusta Nationwide, which he did within the 2014 inaugural version, and qualify for The Masters.

“Simply unreal second for me,” Bhatia mentioned. “Simply the presence of this place is spectacular and I’m excited to be right here as a participant.

“That first time on the Drive, Chip & Putt is fairly surreal as a child. You simply don’t realise how fortunate we’re to have that chance.

“For everybody to be so gracious to let some children hit some golf balls on the vary, hit some putts on the 18th inexperienced, it was unreal.”

Bhatia injured his left shoulder late in his victory Sunday in San Antonio, popping the shoulder misplaced with a vigorous fist pump after sinking an extended putt to power a playoff.

Whereas it was popped again into place shortly, the shoulder stays a supply of concern as he prepares for his Masters debut and solely his second Main begin after a share of 57th on the 2021 US Open.

“The shoulder goes to be a piece in progress, for positive,” Bhatia mentioned. “I’ve had it occur two, thrice. I had a full dislocation taking part in pickleball a pair years in the past and subluxed in Bermuda in 2021.

“So it’s nothing new to me. It’s a bizarre expertise as a result of I had a lot adrenaline so I had no ache in that playoff.

“However it’s undoubtedly one thing we’re going to must work in direction of, and I’ve quite a lot of belief in my workforce that we are able to tee it up on Thursday.”

Bhatia was planning on physio work and relaxation after seven weeks in a row of taking part in.

“It’s quite a lot of golf, however I even have a ton of adrenaline so it form of balances out,” he mentioned. “I’m hoping my shoulder must be good, however I is likely to be just a little scared to hit some pictures. We simply received to seek out out.”