Interv
Interview
COMING TO AMERICA
Ove the past 10 years there has seen incredible growth in terms
Over
of the
t caliber of players coming from India. Indians have become
very successful on the world stage and it’s only a matter of time
before we could have our first Major winner as a professional.
With competition increasing worldwide, more golfers from India
consider going to the US for training to maximize their potential.
This month we interviewed two students from New Delhi, Saptak
Talwar and Arjun Puri who shifted to the US while in high school to
maximize their golf while balancing their academic studies.
SAPTAK TALWAR Division 1 golfer at Sacred Heart University.
Finished his junior golfi ng career ranked #121 by Rolex AJGA junior rankings.
The summer after graduating high school, Saptak tried qualifying for the
Web.com Rex Hospital Open. ‘I shot 67 but missed out by 2 shots. As a
university freshman, I won my conference championship earlier this year in
May in a playoff by scoring a fi nal round 67 and made my fi rst appearance in
the NCAA Regionals.” I was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the
Year as well as named to the ALL NEC First-Team. Attended the International
Junior Golf Academy from 2015 to 2017.
ARJUN PURI Division 1 golfer at Columbia. Earned Team MVP for the
2017/18 season at Columbia. Qualifi ed as the second alternate for the United
States Open after he placed seventh nationally at the 2018 Carolinas Golf
Association U.S. Open Championship Qualifying. Advanced to the round of 32
at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in 2016. Attended the International
Junior Golf Academy from 2015 to 2017.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN GOLF?
ST: I saw my Dad playing golf for the fi rst
time when we were on a trip and I knew I
was interested in the sport. As far as I can I
remember I walked up to him after that and
tried hitting a few shots. From there on out,
all I remember is playing everyday.
AP: At a young age, I use to go the course
with my Dad.
Q: WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME TO
THE US FOR YOUR SCHOOL AND GOLF
TRAINING?
ST: I knew that if I stayed back home in
India, I would have to choose between a
higher education or golf and I didn’t want
to do that at such a young age. I fi gured
that the US was the only place in the world
that allowed students to play their sport at a
20
competitive collegiate level as well pursue
academics. After that, the decision was
pretty straightforward.
AP: In India it was a constant struggle for
me to fi nd enough time for practice and play
golf. I could not be as successful in golf as I
wanted to be with the amount of time I had
to commit to studies. There is less pressure
as I can balance my golf and academics
much easier. In India there were periods
of time where I had to stop playing golf in
order to focus on my exams.
Q: HOW WAS THE TRANSITION COMING
FROM INDIA TO THE US? WAS THERE
ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR CHALLENGING?
ST: The transition was very tough actually.
Anytime you change environments you are
stepping outside your comfort zone and
GolfPlus Junior November-December 2018
Saptak Talwar
Arjun Puri
that’s always hard. It was challenging to live
on my own without my parents but I knew
it is a step I would have to take in the future
anyways and the fact that I got to play golf
everyday made things easier. The absence
of Indian homemade food was a challenge I
still face. I don’t think I will ever be able to
get over my craving of Indian food.
AP: The biggest difference was living alone
and being independent, not having any help
from family in my day to day life. While a
struggle at fi rst, eventually you learn how to
manage and prioritize your time in order to
be successful and accomplish your goals.
Q: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE YOU
SEE TRAINING HERE IN THE US VERSUS
BACK HOME?
ST: Training in the US is more performance