CHENNAI: The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer has been credited with plenty of ideas and quotes but perhaps this one is the most recycled of them all. “Just remember,” he had remarked, “once you are over the hill you begin to pick up speed.”
His view can be applied in a literal sense, or in the case of golfer Mukesh Kumar, from a metaphorical perspective.When Mukesh, 51, turned professional in 1984, the idea that you could make a living out of golf, at least in an Indian context, was non-existent.
Thirty-two years and a hatful of titles later, he is going strong. Not just a pretender, but one of the best in a field that has significantly improved over the last three decades.One look at Mukesh and you get the feeling that he belongs in a sepia-toned fossil era of golfing—an agricultural swing and a paunch, among other traits—but those are just footnotes in a career laced with triumphs all over India. His latest came at the Express Exclusive Chennai Open Golf Championship at the Madras Gymkhana Club on Friday.
His lead—eleven strokes ahead of the second placed Honey Baisoya—was so dominant he could have well brought out the floral wear and declared his 'round' without turning up on the final day.
Given he has won more than his fair share of titles at the MGC, he obviously likes playing here. When queried why he seemed to do well, he said ‘he liked the greens’.
“The greens suit my type of game. They are not super fast or super-slow, and that is one of the main reasons as to why I seem to do well.”He also wasn’t too bothered about the weather. “It’s actually not that hot,” Mukesh said.
But his most interesting response was what kept him going at an age when many would be looking forward to swapping golf clubs for armchairs.
“To me, doing well or winning the title here means very little. I have already started thinking about winning the next one. This urge keeps me on my toes and makes me work harder. The secret to my longevity is practice. I make sure I work hard because I want to keep getting better.”