Veer Ahlawat seeks home course to gain confidence

GURUGRAM: Birthday boy Veer Ahlawat walked off the 18th green during a back-nine revisit of his home course with a smile. It was aimed at his wife Tanya, who was waiting patiently, wondering where the 29th-year celebrations would be.
“An official dinner, and then maybe go out somewhere,” the plan wasn’t completely set in stone. What has been set right last year was the talented Ahlawat’s coming of age with his T2-finish at the Hero Indian Open. With a prize purse of more than 155,000 euros, he carved the benchmark early in the season to end the year on top of the PGTI Order of Merit and earn a European Tour card.
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Last week, he missed the cut in Singapore and boarded the flight back to the home comforts of DLF G&CC on Sunday, with food for thought.
“I think I have a lot in my tank, but it may be a case of confidence, and all the new faces and courses. The competition is so tough on this Tour, you must have an A+ short game,” he said.
Having made four cuts out of seven tournaments this season — a T-27th finish at the Ras Al Khaimah being his high — Veer lies 135th in the long race. Gaganjeet Bhullar, a veteran at 36 now with 11 international wins, and who had four years as a full member in Europe, is willing to bet on the 6-feet-4-inch Ahlawat.
“In the past five or six years, we have not seen too many Indians, but we are proud of what Veer did here last year. And I really hope that he finishes inside 115 this year and remains on the tour,” Bhullar said.
This week will provide another opportunity on the familiar green grass of home.
“I think the confidence comes from doing well on such big stages,” pointed out Ahlawat, the son of a retired colonel who could have been a hoopster had he continued his college pursuit. “Last year, I proved to myself despite the pressure of playing against a top field.”
It is also back to the practice grind as he reunites with his coach Anitya Chand in the flesh. WhatsApp kept the relationship going but a two-week break in the schedule affords more time to reflect and correct.
“Although I am a long hitter, you have to hit it really far for a low round, as the guys on Tour do, so my coach decided to work on my strength. I’ve been lifting weights, going to the gym four times a week even during tournaments. I am stronger than last year, and that helps my swing to be more stable and fuller.”
But what do they say? You drive for show and putt for dough.
“At Ras Al Khaimah, I felt like I should have been top-five or top-10. My ball striking was very good, but I didn’t get those chip-putts, and I didn’t hold those five, six-footers, so the short game made the difference. When we go to a new course, I try to spend more time around the chipping area,” he said.
Unlike his predecessors who took the PGTI route to the bigger Tour — Manu Gandas and Om Prakash Chouhan, Ahlawat believes he has more experience to rewrite the survival story with the European swing around the corner.
“I think the only thing that works for me is I have played a lot more outside, in the wind and slightly colder places. It gets uncomfortable playing with rain jackets and layers. But you actually have to play in this weather to learn how far the ball goes and other things so looking forward to learning more.”