Carrying a load of expectations on his thin shoulders

Rashid Khan, who looks far too young for his 16 years but talks far too mature, is not your everyday boy

MUMBAI: The sudden commotion broke the all-pervading silence. The motley crowd, mostly caddies, went into a tizzy. “Here he comes,” one of them whispers. “Who’s the one?” asks another. “There, the one with the black cap,” comes the reply.
 
All eyes turn towards a frail, dark-complexioned boy, slightly built but with tall strides. “Only three-under today,” he tells them with a dismissive shrug. “But I will win tomorrow, don’t worry.” The crowd disperses, the gates close. Everything’s silent once again.

After all, a 14-under score over three days is not something that happens everyday, more so on a course whose greens are considered among the toughest in the country. But Rashid Khan, who looks far too young for his 16 years but talks far too mature, is not your everyday boy. Only last week, the Delhi teenager won the Faldo Series Asia title at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. He has been the national junior champion for the last two years. He also won the amateur title at the Indian Open earlier this year.

Besides, there are several others, small and not-so-small, which even he can’t recall exactly. When you start wielding the club at the age of eight, it’s difficult to remember things.

Again, he’s not your everyday boy. His family still struggles to make ends meet. His father works in a pro-shop at the Delhi Golf Club.

His uncle, Mohd Maqbool, was a caddy at the DGC before graduating to the pro tour. Initially, Rashid too began the same way, and dreamt of becoming a caddy only. But Fate, perhaps, had other plans.
 
While at the course with his uncle once, he casually took a few swings. The distance, and accuracy, stunned Maqbool. Hardly eight, he was already shooting like a pro. He took charge of Rashid from that day. “I have never felt the need for a coach. I have got the best grounding from my uncle,” says Rashid.

He began playing tournaments. In his very first year, 2000, he won two out of seven starts, but managed to make the cut every time. He kept on improving. Today, he’s the top-ranked junior in the country, and plans to turn amateur next year. He also hopes to be in the Indian squad for the 2010 Asian Games.
 
Yet, he’s not your everyday boy. He doesn’t like Tiger Woods. “I like Sergio Garcia. I like his swing. I like his aggression. I like his care-a-damn attitude. Tiger is too mild,” he says. Powerful words from a Class X dropout.

No, he’s not your everyday boy. He doesn’t idolise Jeev Milkha Singh or Arjun Atwal. Nor even Jyoti Randhawa or Shiv Kapur.

“Ashok Kumar. He’s is a fighter, both in life and on the course. I admire the way he has struggled to the top.” What next? “Tomorrow I plan to break Ashok Kumar’s record (19-under set earlier this year) at this course. I am confident I can do it,” he says, looking at you straight in the eye.

And then… “I want to take it step by step. I have set no plans for myself. I will take life as it comes. Right now I only want to enjoy the game. I have got some grants from the Golf Foundation, that’s enough for me. This is no time to think about money, it can spoil you.” Far too mature words for a 16-year-old. But then, he’s not your everyday boy.