Bedi will participate in the IMG World Cup (San Diego, California), World Star of Junior Golf (Los Vegas, Nevada), and Optimist International
(Palm Beach Garden, Florida).
In an interview with The American Bazaar, the 15-year-old golfer from Chandigarh, North India, shares his experience of international tournaments. The IJGA World Stars (Los Vegas, USA) runner-up has more than 150 accolades to his credit, both nationally and internationally.
He ranked number 1 in the Indian Golf Union in D Category (10 years and under) in 2011 and finished 6th in Optimist International, Florida, in July 2016.
Excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about yourself, and why you choose golf over other games, say cricket?
Hi, I am Aadil Bedi. I started golf at the age of 4. Before starting this [golf] I was a very big fan of cricket. But in cricket, we had both bowling and batting. I only loved batting. So when I first saw golf, it is like batting. So we have batting, batting all day. As a young kid, I loved doing it. [Chuckles]
I remember that time we could not even get golf clubs of my size. My father used to order the kit from the US. It used to take about 3 weeks to get delivered. So my first golf clubs were from the US.
Are there more golfers in the family?
My uncles play golf, my mom’s brothers. My father introduced me to the world of golf when I could hardly hold the club. The full size club was very high. Kids’ equipment was not available in India at that time. I used to get my equipment shipped from the US. I used to practice with my father. He, too, is a passionate golfer.
How do you fair against your father? Does he mind losing to his son?
I think he does not mind. He feels good that I am now playing better. It is not very competitive when we play. It is mainly for fun. Even my mom is equally supportive. When my father is busy, she takes care of my practice sessions.
You have been playing international golf from the last six years now. How different was the recent US tour?
Now because I have played many international events I have certainly been more exposed to the pressure. It is the same difference between a rookie and experienced players. I feel I have been better. That helped me a lot this year. I feel I am stronger both physically and mentally. I finished second in the world junior golf cup [IJGA, USA, 2016]. And I finished sixth in the Optimist International in Florida. I also won two national wins in North India, Northern India Junior Golf Championship, and Karnataka Junior Golf Championship.
You have played in several countries including Australia, Canada, United States of America, England, China, among others. What has been your toughest competition so far?
World cup [IJGA World Stars of Junior Golf, USA]. Because I was in the lead in the final rounds in 2016. It was like first time I have a very good lead. The pressure in the world cup was very different. Even if I lost [No. 1 position], I learned a lot of things. After that, I won two national events. But still managed second position [at the AJGA world cup, USA]. I had a very big lead but he [winner, Marco Trstenjak, Canada] caught up very well.
I already have the ticket for the next year. Due to my past performance, I have qualified for the next year. There are somewhere around 130-150 players from 35 nations. Only top two players of their respective countries qualify.
In the US it is more competitive to qualify. In the US, every state gives players and from them the best are chosen. China and Japan were becoming huge. They train their players in the US itself.
You have an American coach, too. How does that work?
Yes, I train with Dr. Bob Byman from Las Vegas. In India, my coach is Jesse Grewal.
I first went to the US at the age of 9. Till date, I have visited the US five time[s], one and a half month each time.
My first tournament in the US was Junior World Cup in San Diego in July 2010. I came 18th in that tournament. It was very different experience. I was very thin. My physique was not very good. I was shocked to see them [US players] hit 230-240 yards off the Tee [the first shot of every hole]. I think I could hit just 180-200 yards that time. That time I was there [in the US] because I had a coaching session. I trained for two weeks and played one event. It was a 4-day event. Until then, in India, I used to win almost every day. I thought that I am nowhere near to winning the world level.
So, the US tournament was an eye opener?
Yes, it was my first international event.
How different is international golf?
The conditions are totally different. Their golf courses offer everything. They have links-style golf courses, windy golf courses, courses near the sea and they have water hazards inside the courses. It can change in condition to the other. The quality of the grass is very high. It is professionally managed, manicured.
How competitive are US golfers?
US golfers are very fierce. Especially after 15 they are very fit; they are very fierce. Even in like, after the game when we sit in the club house, in India we let loose; but there [in the US] they keep themselves composed. They are not very friendly. I think they are trained in that way. Their training is very scientific. They have a very all-round training. They go to the gym, the courses are much better.
How is the camaraderie among teen golfers, otherwise?
My circle, which we are, we are national players. We have 10 players who are really good. We all have a very healthy competition. Most of us have played golf internationally. So we set the bar very high.
When I go abroad, it is usually the same players almost all the time. The best players remain the same.
What is your fitness regime like?
I have different athletic coach and a golf coach. I work out like five days a week, two days with each coach and one day on my own. It is a one-hour session each day; apart from meditating, stretching and cool down at the end of the day.
I have a nutritionist too. She gives me a set diet each week. She is a doctor and a family friend, too.
How expensive is it to play golf?
One US-trip costs around Rs. 7-8 lakhs [about US$ 10,000 – 12,000], which sometimes touches to about Rs. 10 lakhs [about US$ 15,000]. Even playing [an] Indian tournament is not cheap. I play about 10 to 11 tournaments each year in India. It costs about Rs. 5-6 lakhs [US$ 7000-9000] in total. My training and diet is another Rs. 5-7 lakhs [US$ 7000–10,000] per annum.
My US coach, Dr. Bob Byman (Los Vegas) charges about $8000. It’s like $ 400 per hour. This year would be my second year under his coaching.
It is difficult to manage [the expenses]. My parents have sold almost half of their parental property to meet my expenses.
How difficult is it to juggle both academics and international sports?
It is very tough. But my school is very supportive. They have a soft corner for me. The teachers are also very supportive. Chandigarh is a golf nursery. Chandigarh Golf Association runs CGA Golf Range, it is one of the best in the country for their infrastructure. We have all the facilities. Such as Golf Simulator, Sam Put Tab, Trackman et cetera. Grade wise, I got 8.4 CGPA [GPA 4] in class 9. In the mid-terms, I have 74 percent [GPA 4]. My high school exams are in March.
Yes, sometimes it gets out of hand because we have assignments almost every passing month. When I come back [from the international tours], a lot of work piles up.
Do you aspire to make a career out of golf?
Definitely.
You idolize Tiger Woods, tell us more about it?
I think Tiger, I loved the way he changed the way people think about golf. Like he brought fitness into the golfing world. He was extremely fit at this time. People started working-out because of him. Earlier it was an old man’s game. But Tiger, his perfect mechanics and technique; people like the way he used to putts. From India, I get inspired by Jeev Milkha.
How often do you take vacations?
I don’t; not really. I travel so much that is the only vacation for me. I am away from home for at least twenty weeks every year.
What other games do you play?
I play a lot of other games also. As a hobby, I like to do everything that is available in my city, like swimming, basketball, volleyball, [and] table tennis.
What is next in the calendar of events and beyond?
Next year I will play the amateur circuit in the Indian golf. I am going to go to the US again next year [2017] for my world cup tournaments.
After that it will be my final amateur year, I would try to make it to the Asian Games and the Youth Olympics. Once you turn pro [professional] you cannot play these tournaments. Once I turn pro, I will play golf and try to qualify for the Olympics in 2020, Tokyo.
I am preparing for Youth Olympics [2018].
I think I will play the Asian and European tour. We have four majors every year. They will help increase my world ranking. That would help me get into the PG Tour [PGA Tour, USA].