Hong Kong: The swagger is again for Indian golf’s King Khan. Within the opening spherical of the $2 million Hyperlink Hong Kong Open, Rashid Khan shot a superb six-under-par 64, strolling in lengthy putts and attacking even probably the most tucked-away pins.
India’s Rashid Khan with caddie Ashok Kumar throughout spherical certainly one of Hyperlink Hong Kong Open on the Hong Kong Golf Membership on Thursday. (Asian Tour)
Probably the most proficient stars to emerge from India, Khan had been struggling together with his sport for the higher a part of the previous yr, however there have been sufficient indications that issues had been turning round. He shot 16-under in PGTI’s Poona Open, adopted by a 22-under par effort on the Jaipur Open the place he ultimately misplaced in a playoff.
Earlier, in August, Khan informed HT about his struggles, particularly together with his driver, and the way it put a number of stress on his in any other case fabulous quick sport.
“I was struggling back then. I was trying to hit it hard, but I was just forcing it. I’ve always been very aggressive off the tee box, and tend to play more safely with my second. Because I was spraying my driver, I couldn’t take advantage of my second shots,” mentioned Khan, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour and a three-time No.1 participant on the PGTI.
“A few weeks ago, at the Black Mountain Championship (October 17-20), I could sense it all coming back. When you visualise shots and then you go to the golf course and pull them off, it gives you all the confidence. I made a bogey on the last (at Black Mountain) to miss the cut by one shot, but I made enough birdies on the back nine that day to know my game was back.
“I knew I just needed to play a few more tournaments and I would be all right. I tend to get lazy when I am not playing competitive golf. I played the PGTI event in Pune (third) and shot 22-under in Jaipur and lost in a playoff. Looks like I have brought that form here.”
On Thursday, Khan unleashed his driver on each potential gap on a course that’s not conducive to driver play, discovering 12 out of 14 fairways and 16 out of 18 greens. His solely bogey – on his opening gap – got here from a three-putt. He ended tied fifth.
The driving force is the favorite membership in his bag, however Khan additionally paid glowing tributes to the person on his bag – Indian home tour legend Ashok Kumar.
A six-time Order of Benefit champion on the PGTI Tour, Kumar has been Khan’s hero rising up and has additionally been his mentor and coach for years.
“Ashok bhai has played a lot of golf. His knowledge of the game is immense. I have been following him since my junior days. Back in 2005-06, there were only two players I’d go and watch – Ashok bhai, who was at his peak, and Mukesh Kumar. I used to love how aggressive he used to be off the tees. I guess it has rubbed off on me,” mentioned the 33-year-old Khan.
“I requested him to come with me this week because I wanted to learn a few more things. And he did teach me a lot today.
“He was so crucial to this round. I mean, starting from the first hole, when it was raining and I made the three-putt bogey. And he told me it was OK. It’s not just bad for you, it’s bad for everyone. I made three straight birdies after that.
“On Tuesday, he pointed out that I might be putting more pressure with my right hand on the putter grip which was the reason I was pushing (hitting slightly right) my putts. I tried to change that, and have felt so much more comfortable on the greens.
“And today, on the 18th hole, I had 121 yards to the front from a downhill slope, 134 yards to the pin, and I took out my wedge and he insisted that I hit a 9-iron. He was right again…I hit it to about three feet for a closing birdie.”
4-time DP World Tour champion Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia acquired an early glimpse of Khan’s confidence when he performed a follow spherical with him at Hong Kong Golf Membership’s Fanling course on Tuesday.
“It was on the 18th hole and Rashid had a 20-footer birdie putt to halve our match. He made the stroke, saw it travel 4-5 feet, and started walking towards the hole to pick up his ball. He just knew that the ball was going nowhere but the centre of the cup. I told him ‘Kya baat hai Rashid! Ghazab ka confidence! (Super Rashid! That’s some confidence)’,” recalled Chawrasia.
The King is again. And it could actually solely convey good occasions for Indian golf.