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Featured Player: VIKRANT CHOPRA

Date of birth: 28th April 1980 Residence: Delhi Home Course: Noida Golf Club, Noida Turned Pro: 2005 OOM Ranking (2007-08): 17 Career PGTI Earnings: Rs. 1,233,859

Vikrant Chopra has not looked back since emerging as one of the most promising youngsters on the Indian amateur circuit about five years back. He has made a name for himself on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) with some consistent performances over the last couple of years. Vikrant’s five top 10s in the current PGTI season have placed him in the top league of Indian professional golfers.


How did you begin golf?

I was a late beginner in golf as I only started playing the sport at the age of 18 while I was residing in Pune. I was in 1st year college at that time (1998-99) and my father encouraged me to pick up golf. At the beginning I was not very focused because I was more into swimming but gradually my interest in golf started growing as I spent more and more time on the golf course.


How was the experience on the amateur circuit?

I did not play any junior golf and straightaway started playing on the amateur circuit. I played for fun to begin with because I did not want to take up golf as a career. However, one year down the line I realized that amateur golf will give me a number of opportunities to represent the country if I play well. That’s when I got serious about my game and decided to undergo coaching with Kel Llewellyn. Subsequently, from 2002 to 2005, I was in virtually every Indian team except for the Asian Games squad. My sponsor, ONGC, gave me a lot of support during my amateur days.

My best season as an amateur was in 2003-04 when I won three events including the Southern India Amateur and Northern India Amateur and even represented India at the Nomura Cup. I also had 10 runner-up finishes on the amateur tour.


When did you decide to turn professional?

Once I started playing competitive golf, I always knew I had to play that ultimate level - professional golf, one day. After representing India at the Eisenhower Trophy in 2004-05 I knew I had nothing more to achieve as an amateur. That’s when I decided to turn pro.


How would you sum up your first few seasons as a professional?

I started well with a few top 10s in my first season. After I finished runners-up at the IOC XtraPremium Masters in Digboi my confidence grew by leaps and bounds. Then there was a slump in the first season of the PGTI (2006-07). That was a phase when I think I started expecting too much out of myself. As a result, I missed the cut in most of the big events and ended up in 41st place on the Order of Merit with just one top 10 out of 10 starts.

But I have managed to turn it around this season (2007-08), having already posted five top 10s out of 16 starts. I only missed the cut at the BILT Open 2007 in the current season. My best performances this year have come at the HUDA-GTPL-Unitech Haryana Open (tied second), Tamil Nadu Open Golf Championship (tied third) and The Global Green Bangalore Open (tied fifth). I’m now feeling more confident about my game. In fact, the 10 events I played on the Asian Tour last year (2007) helped me a great deal. I did not fare very well on the Asian Tour but the fact that I played along side some of the best players in Asia, was a huge morale booster.


Most memorable moment as a professional?

The best moments for me as a professional have been my best finishes so far and the incredible comeback that I made at The Global Green Bangalore Open in December 2007. I had shot seven over in the opening round of The Global Green Bangalore Open. In the next round I fired a flawless six under to make significant progress on the leaderboard, even as the cut came down at five over. This round did wonders for my confidence and gave me the momentum for the rest of the year. I finally finished tied fifth at The Global Green Bangalore Open.


Goals for the near future?

I want to keep playing well on the PGTI and then want to make it to the Asian Tour. I also want to go for the European Tour qualifying in the future.


Biggest influence in your career?

The biggest influence in my career has been my father, Brigadier Ashok Chopra. He has been my biggest supporter and has always told me to give my best towards my chosen profession. My coach Kel Llewellyn has also made a major contribution towards my growth as a professional golfer.


Idols?

I have no idol as such but when it comes to style Greg Norman is the best. I really admire his sense of style and the way he carries himself. He is a class apart.


Favourite golf course?

The DLF golf course is my favourite. It has a fantastic layout, is very tough and challenging and also appeals to the eye.

Dream fourball?

I’ll take Greg (Norman) with me and two other Hollywood actresses.

Other interests?

I’m a hardcore outdoor guy. I love sports, especially swimming, sailing, rafting and ice-hockey. Para-jumping is my latest passion. I’ll definitely pursue para-jumping in the future as it gives me a tremendous high. Next year I plan to make a trip to the Mt Everest base camp.

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