When Shubhankar Sharma was last week ‘wowing’ the world with his performance in extreme conditions to become the first Indian to finish in the top ten of The 151st Open, there were three ‘Senior’ golfers getting ready for their second innings at a game they had made popular in India.
For decades, Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, and Jyoti Randhawa, played a major role in ensuring India was represented at various courses and they often came back with a trophy. This week, they were reunited at The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
Between the three, they won more than 40 times. Singh (20 wins worldwide) won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2006 and 2008; Atwal (13 international wins) was Asia Number One in 2003 and Randhawa (nine wins) was Asia Number One in 2002. The ‘Big Three’ between them have 22 wins on the Asian Tour, seven on the DP World Tour, five in Japan and one on the PGA TOUR.
Singh’s father was an Army man, who became an athletics legend; Atwal hailed from a business family that was totally devoted to golf; and Randhawa, also son of an Army man, who distinguished himself in war time.
Singh Snr won India’s first athletics gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, which is just over a 30-minute drive from Royal Porthcawl; and this week coincides with the first anniversary of the passing of Atwal’s father, Bindi, who made it a point to walk along the ropes whenever his son played a big event. “He would have braved the elements to be here,” recalled Atwal.
“Playing alongside guys with whom I shared many locker rooms and numerous dinners around the world was a privilege and it is the same as we now start a new innings,” added Atwal.
Singh said: “There is a history and a story to my association with this golf course. I played this golf course when I was 15 years old and this was the first links golf course I've ever played.
“I played the British Amateur qualifying when I was 15 years old. It was quite an experience to get here. We were playing in France and it was suddenly decided that the British Amateur qualifying was taking place at Royal Porthcawl and we would play it.
“But, we didn't have a visa. We didn't have money. We spent three nights on the streets of Paris, sleeping on the train, sleeping under the Eiffel Tower. We got great help from the Indian Embassy. Amandeep Johl (who became a pro and is now a coach) and Uttam Singh Mundy (later a pro and now the CEO of the Indian PGTI Tour) and myself were there. Johl had money but we finished it. Then we came across Sir (Michael) Bonallack, who was very nice and helped us and made sure that the British Embassy issued the visa to the Indians in Paris, because we were told earlier that we had to go back to our home country to get it.
“We finally got here and I played my first practice round on a beautiful day with no wind. I told myself that Links golf was the easiest. And the next day when the rain and the wind came, I said ‘how do they play golf in this weather’. That was my introduction to links golf and now I am playing the Senior Open here after 37-38 years.
“Also, some 50 miles from here (in Cardiff), my Dad won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 440 yards. So all good memories,” recalled Singh, whose exploits put India on the world golf map.
Randhawa, who probably loves adventure sport even more then golf, was coming to the UK for a month-long holiday with his family, then he heard about the Senior Open qualifiers. Having turned 50, he was eligible and ‘just like that’ he decided to enter. And, he qualified. The holiday will begin next week.
“It was amazing. I just decided to take a shot and now I am making my Seniors debut at the Senior Open. It’s amazing,” said Randhawa.
Relishing the thought of being back together at the same event they were excited to hook up with each other despite the wet and windy weather.
Singh said: “We loved playing with each other and this is a new beginning.”
While Singh missed the cut at the Senior Open last year at Gleneagles, Atwal and Randhawa are playing their maiden Senior Major.
All three were fulsome in their praise for young Shubhankar Sharma, who played outstanding golf to finish in top ten at Royal Liverpool last week. Sharma was tied eighth and was the only player in the entire field to card a bogey-free round.
Singh, 52, called it “a fantastic performance by the young boy. I am proud of him.”
Randhawa, 50, said: “I did not catch him on TV. I was busy with my qualifying, but that performance of Shubhankar was so good. A top ten in a Major is great. It’s time our boys went out and did it.”
“They are all coming up, strong fields in India. Hopefully one of these boys will make it big soon,” said Randhawa, whose best of T27 at the Open was what Sharma bettered.
Atwal, 50, went even further: “You know, this kid can definitely win a Major, When he gets going, he doesn't really get bothered by the limelight or the big stage.”
Already big stars in their sport in India and Asia and beyond, Singh, Atwal and Randhawa are now ready for another shot at stardom.
