The New Delhi native is set to turn professional at the end of the spring.
Howey-in-the-Hills, FLORIDA – Saptak Talwar, a 22-year old college student from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield Connecticut became the first Indian to earn playing rights on the 2021 PGA Tour Canada season. Talwar earned this right by competing in the Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournament, closing out with a combined score of 9-under, to finish tied for fourth and earning him a spot on the Tour.
“I am very grateful to be a member of the 2021 PGA Tour Canada, Mackenzie Tour. I have been dreaming of becoming a professional golfer since the age of six and to start the journey at such a prestigious tour is truly an honour and I cannot wait for the season to start.”
One hundred and six players competed in the tournament, which was played out at Mission Inn Resort, Florida from March 2-5, 2021. Talwar ended the tournament only six strokes behind the tournament winner, Luis Gagne.
“I never felt an ounce of pressure throughout the week apart from the last 5 holes coming in. Going into the week, I convinced myself that at the end of the day it’s golf and the ball or club doesn’t know who’s hitting, and if it’s for birdie or bogey.”
New Delhi native, Talwar, shot 69-74-67-69 (9-under, 279), with a record 21 birdies, which was the highest in the field.
“I’ve had a very gradual rise in this game and I’ve never been more grateful for that. I was able to conduct myself quite well throughout the week, despite some early bad breaks: got the tougher wave with rain and wind the first day, and windy the next morning. Instead of telling myself to be conservative through the tough conditions I told myself to trust the practice and go out there and execute the shot required.
Ironically, I started the week with hitting my first tee shot in the water on hole 1. Which was so not the ideal start to your very first q-school but I quickly nudged that away and grinded to make par on the hole to switch the momentum. Birdied the very next hole and the rest is history.”
Saptak took up golf at the young age of 5 in his hometown, New Delhi, India. At 16, he moved to the USA, to study his final years of High School at International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head, SC.
“The junior golf platform provided by Albatross Junior Tour, India was very crucial in my grooming process and then moving to International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) in 2017 allowed me to pursue Division 1 collegiate golf at Sacred Heart University.”
Talwar is the first golfer from India to gain status in the Mackenzie Tour, unlocking a new path for future generations of countrymen to follow. He will now be competing in his last season at Sacred Heart University before turning pro.
You can stay up to date with Saptak at saptaktalwar.com
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Saptak Talwar
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