It is considered a blasphemy if a sportsperson doesn’t possess a huge ambition. Here is Shamim Khan, an antithesis of today’s ambitious, successful golfers, who live out of a suitcase.
Twice Order of the Merit champion (2012 & ’17), the 39-year-old with 13 PGTI titles, is one of the most prosperous golfers on the domestic tour. But for all his achievements in India, he has hardly played abroad: only twice in Singapore.
Most important, Shamim is content playing at home — the last tournament he competed abroad was in 2012 — and he has no regrets.
His logic is that it is difficult to sustain playing abroad without a sponsor. “With the money I get from competing in India, I can take care of myself and my family — wife, son and daughter — which is the primary requirement,” he said.
He is very clear that his focus would be on the PGTI Tour as of now. “I have made up my mind pretty much; decided to not to play overseas. My game has certain limitations and is better suited to Indian conditions,” he averred.
If he has big bank balance now, he hasn’t forgotten from where it all started — in Chennai.
In 1997, as a part-time caddie, Shamim wanted to take part in the Qualification school, but he couldn’t afford the fee of ₹350 then. At that time, Pankaj Munjal of the Hero Group came forward to help.
“When I started here in Madras Gymkhana Club Annexe, I didn’t have money and Pankaj (Munjal) sir supported me. That is where I started,” he said.
Though it was pretty difficult for a while when he turned professional in 1995, things have changed for the better in the last 10-odd years. “More money has come, and in the process, it has improved the standard of my game, helped me meet my expenses. It is a conscious decision to stay in India rather than go out and lose money,” he said.
When he looks back, Shamim said it’s been a dream come true. “I never thought that I can beat Mukesh Kumar at some stage. Of course, it has been long years of hardwork,” he said.