The Indian golfing community lost an old friend and formidable India No 1 golfer and Indian Open champion Vijay Kumar, who passed away at his home in Lucknow following a cardiac arrest. He was 57.
Born in 1968, Vijay Kumar turned professional in 1988 and went on to become one of India’s most dominant golfers on the domestic circuit. A four-time Order of Merit winner, he was widely regarded as the country’s leading professional throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
His most memorable victory came at the 2002 Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club, a defining moment in his career when he defeated a 100 plus International players to give India another win in the Indian Open, soon after Feroz Ali had won in 1998, Arjun Atwal in 1999, and Jyoti Randhawa in 2000. Over the years, Vijay amassed more than 100 titles on the Indian circuit, underlining his consistency and longevity in the game.
Vijay was known for his distinctive, slow paced, long, flowing swing with a wide right elbow at the top of his backswing (reminiscent of his contemporary, Fred Couples, on the PGA Tour). He walked the fairways at an unhurried pace and rarely showed any emotions as he nonchalantly racked up several titles – at times even 10 wins in a single season in India !
He was always pleasant, respectful of everyone he spoke to, and unassuming, well respected by his peers but sadly rarely played overseas, even though his win in the Indian Open would have got him onto the Asian Tour.
Kumar passed away in Lucknow, leaving behind a legacy built on sheer talent, discipline and self confidence. His contribution to Indian golf, both as a champion and a standard-bearer of the domestic tour, will be remembered for years to come.
He is survived by his family and loved ones.
In India – it is sad that some of our greatest players like Rohtas Singh and Vijay Kumar are just forgotten after their playing days. Compare that to the PGA Tour, where trophies and awards are named after past legends so that their legacy is never lost.
Photo – PGTI
