Eloquent to the core, a good round gets Rahil Gangjee chirpy. And when it’s a day like Friday, the 10-under 62 put Rahil firmly in contention, the words flow from a man whose seen enough crests and troughs in a pro career that started in 2000.
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Gaganjeet Bhullar continued his march at the Tata Steel Tour Championship, following up the 64 with a 66 for a two-shot lead, and while Rahil did not deny the urge to push harder, there is guarded optimism.
The angst of missing out on most of 2023 due to injury fresh on the mind and years of “underperforming” of the world’s biggest stages always playing in the background, Rahil is on a mission to prove himself all over again. If not to the world, to himself.
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The drive has seen him secure his card on PGTI in just 7 starts, and up next is bagging the biggest prize on India’s pro tour.
The fire in the belly is backed some recent tips from old-time coach Ajai Gupta, putting tips from Aussie pro Terry Pilkadaris, and caddie Ruhi Akram’s calm demeanour on the bag.
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These combined to get Rahil to shoot his career’s first 62, and the road ahead looks promising, but he knows that “redemption”, as he terms it, is still two days away.
Up there but Angad Cheema hoping for a different end to Tour Championship
Going into Moving Day two shots off the lead isn’t a novelty for Angad Cheema. For one as steady as Angad, shooting two consecutive 66s (12-under 132) isn’t unusual too, a look at the order of merit where Angad is stands 9th gives an insight into why over the years the 33-year-old has come to be known as one of the bankable names on PGTI.
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Where Angad can make a departure this week at the Tata Steel Tour Championship is by stitching together four rounds that will give him his first win since the breakthrough a decade back.
Angad is aware and tried to figure a way out by attempting various methods, but has come to the conclusion that playing good golf over a stretch, as his season stats show, and staying patient is the best route to glory.
Nothing comes easy for Aman Raj
Beating a nagging wrist injury to win thrice in 2023, Aman Raj now overcomes severe fatigue and congestion to contend at the Tata Steel Tour Championship.
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Taking on the odds headlong comes naturally to the No 2 on PGTI’s order of merit.
