Want to graduate from bigger to better, says Manav Jaini

Manav Jaini was just another golfer on the Indian circuit, playing various tournaments and eyeing that one opportunity which could change his life. And last Sunday he almost got that chance, when he came close to winning the Asian Tour title before Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg bagged the Indian Open title at the Delhi Golf Club.

“It is disappointing when you are so close to the title and then miss out,” said the 27-year-old, who will be participating in the Rs80 lakh Crompton Greaves Open 2010 to begin here on Wednesday at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club.

“Every thing was going smooth, but at the 16th and 17th hole, things started going wrong. And my heart started beating fast at the 18th hole. I thought the chance has gone.

“In the end I had to share the third spot. As I was playing at my home club, everyone was happy to see me do well,” said Jaini, who finished joint third with Shiv Kapur, at 8-under.
Jaini said he has been in a good form and would like to continue with it. “I still have the intensity and hunger. If not, I would not have come for this tournament. I finished third in the Indian Open but now want to win here,” he said on the eve of the tournament.

The Delhi-born golfer said that his improved performance has inspired him to try harder in the year 2010-11. “I want to graduate from bigger to better and be more consistent in the coming year.”

“I want to become a regular at the Asian Tour level. “At the moment, Asia and India level is very much important and my focus will be that,” he added. In November, Jaini had participated in the Barclays Singapore Open and finished 152nd at over-4 said to have enjoyed his stint there.

“I got to meet Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell at the Singapore Open and learnt a lot from them. It was an experience,” said Jaini, who started playing golf at the age of 12 at Delhi Golf Club.