I am richer in experience now

I leave the United States after six weeks of great learning, but with a twinge of disappointment. Sure, the cut at Masters and a good outing at the World Golf Championships Match Play was pleasing, but I frankly feel I was capable of doing better.

In fact I played better than what my results and scores might have shown.

Coming close and not being able to finish on a couple of occasions at the Match Play and then missing the cut on account of a couple of bad holes hurt a lot. But I am better because of that as now I know what to do and having played on both sides of the US, I understand conditions, courses and strategies better.

Playing in different course and events like Houston, Masters, WGC (Championships and Matchplay), RBC Heritage and the Players. All these were ‘firsts’ for me, so I am richer in experience. I made the cut on a couple of occasions (Masters and Heritage), played all four rounds at WGC and three matches at Matchplay, where I won a good match and came close twice. So, all that taught me a lot, so I feel I can do better.

I am sure I will be back at most of these events in the future and I am also back for Memorial and US Open, so I have a lot to look forward to.

Another thing I am happy about is that my presence has helped bring focus on Indian golf and a lot of people have been talking to me about golf in India and that is a good thing for us in India and Asia.

My goal is to play with the best in the world and that’s what I saw in the US in these few weeks and it is my goal to get there. I know if I can play well enough over the next few events that count (towards PGA membership) I should get there soon and if that happens it will allow me to play in more tournaments here in the States.

And yes, I have made a lot of friends and they have been very helpful and I will surely benefit from the advise from some of the players I have spoken with and as I keep feeling everything is useful at this stage.

I have also received great support from my coach back home and my family, friends and sponsors and that has been great. I am now off to the European Tour for a couple of weeks for the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth and the Irish Open on consecutive weeks on the European Tour. Then I will be back in the US for the Memorial and the US Open.