NEW DELHI: For Shubham Jaglan, winning the Kolkata Open golf was less about keeping an eye on the leaderboard and more about staying committed to the game in front of him.In testing conditions, with rain disrupting the tournament and one round being reduced, Jaglan produced a composed performance to claim the title on Friday.The victory was a significant one for the 21-year -old golfer, who has spent the last few years rebuilding his game and gaining experience in the demanding US college golf system before turning professional.“I had a lot of self-belief, which is something that I’ve maybe struggled with in the past,” Jaglan said. “I played very bravely. I certainly felt the pressure, certainly felt the nerves, but I never felt like I was playing scared golf,” said Jaglan.That mindset proved crucial in Kolkata. Rather than allowing the weather or the quality of the field to dictate his approach, Jaglan focused on the standard of golf he believed he could produce.“I was very much focused on my own game, comparing myself to the standard of golf that I know I can play,” he said.The conditions were hardly straightforward. Persistent rain threatened to disrupt the event, but Jaglan was already familiar with the demands of playing in difficult weather from his time in the US. “In college, we get exposed to all sorts of different conditions. We play in wind, we play in rain, we play with three jackets on, we play in Florida heat,” he said.The depth of the PGTI field made the victory even more significant. Jaglan recalled how he and fellow golfer Saptak Talwar felt they had played decent opening rounds, only to find themselves five shots behind the leader. On the Indian circuit, there is little room to relax.“Every round that you go out to play, there’s somebody that’s going to shoot six, seven, eight under par,” he said. “You have to keep going low every day.”Jaglan’s journey to this point began when he was six, after a golf academy opened near his village in Panipat. His grandfather encouraged him to pick up the sport, setting him on a path that eventually saw him win the Junior World Golf Championships in 2015.But that early success came with its own challenges. Jaglan credited his Delhi coach Nonita Lall with keeping him grounded and encouraging him to pursue college golf instead of turning professional too early.His time at the University of South Florida further shaped his game. Working with coach Steve Bradley and swing coach Tony Ruggiero, Jaglan developed not only technically but also in his understanding of the sport.That growth was evident in Kolkata, particularly when he faced the pressure of the closing holes. Instead of protecting his position, Jaglan continued to attack. Even after bogeying the 18th, he responded aggressively, taking driver on the final hole and finishing with a birdie.“I certainly could have played that final hole more safely and secured par. But I took on that challenge, and that made the win even more enjoyable,” he said.For Jaglan, the Kolkata title was therefore more than another trophy. It was proof that the patience, hard work and self-belief he has invested in his game are beginning to translate into results. And, importantly, he believes there is still plenty more to come.
