Indian golf legend Rohtas Singh, revered as ‘guruji’, passes away at 65

Legendary Rohtas Singh, one of the most decorated Indian golfers, who won over a hundred pro titles in his illustrious career spanning three decades, passed away—almost in anonymity—on October 25 in New Delhi.

A caddie-turned-pro, Rohtas was 65, and he leaves behind his wife, a son, and two daughters.

The Delhi-based Rohtas was first laid low by pneumonia for 20 days and had to be admitted to a hospital. Then, he developed a lung issue. After returning from the hospital, he collapsed at home due to the same illness and was put on a ventilator. He recovered after a month and returned home. “On September 19, he was again taken to a hospital due to a lack of oxygen and breathing problems, and on October 25, he passed away,” says his son Rohit.

Despite his astonishing achievements and contributions to Indian golf, Rohtas was not recognised as he should have been, mainly for three reasons: official apathy, his low profile with zero PR, and the strata of society he came from. He was neither considered for the Arjuna Award, India’s top sports prize in terms of prestige, nor any of the Padma honours.

Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia, a golfer with 12 pro titles including four on the European Tour and six on the Asian Tour, drew a parallel between Rohtas’ achievements and those of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

He said, “I wouldn’t talk about a specific prize, but he should have been given more awards for what he achieved in golf. Rohtas’ 100-plus pro titles can be compared to Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries.” Chawrasia made these comments while competing in the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club this weekend.

Veteran professional Indrajit Bhalotia, who has won five PGA titles, emphasized that Rohtas deserved the Arjuna Award.

He expressed, “I will say it on record, and on any platform, that Rohtas should have been among the first golfers to win this award.” He further noted that Basad Ali and Mukesh Kumar, who have also achieved 100-plus pro titles each, should have been recognised similarly.

Another veteran golfer, who preferred to remain anonymous, voiced concerns about the neglect of Rohtas’ accomplishments.

“The Arjuna Award, especially in golf, was all by recommendation. A lot of golfers who probably did not deserve the award received it, while some who thoroughly deserved it never got it,” he remarked, highlighting the disparity in recognition within the sport. “The Arjuna Award is no yardstick to judge a golfer’s achievements.”

Interestingly, the India Golf Union (IGU), the oldest regulatory body for the sport in the country, recommended Rohtas’ name for the Arjuna Award on two occasions. Satish Aparajit, the former IGU secretary, noted, “Rohtas was recommended for the Arjuna Award in 2004 and 2007 by the IGU. The IGU sent the recommendation to the Ministry of Sports and the Sports Authority of India.”

Also read: In search of elusive IPL title, Delhi Capitals makes changes yet again

Tributes pour in from friends and rivals

Those who either competed with Rohtas or were simply mesmerised watching his game paid rich tributes to the handsome man with golden hair.

Ali Sher, who made history in 1991 as the first Indian to win the Indian Open and repeated the feat in 1993, spoke about Rohtas’ impact on golf. He stated, “He played well for India, and the best thing about him was that his results after four days of competition were invariably very good.”

Sher emphasised Rohtas’ rapport with people, calling him “the hero of his time when golf was not so popular.” He noted that Rohtas’ performance contributed significantly to the promotion of the sport in India.

Mukesh Kumar, another golfer with over 100 pro titles, expressed his gratitude towards Rohtas, saying, “I knew him for 33 years. He was my ‘guru’; he taught me how to play golf.” Kumar regarded Rohtas as a legend, declaring, “There has been no bigger legend than him in India.” He described himself as a “kid” to Rohtas, who shared technical insights about the game.

Kumar recalled Rohtas’ encouragement during competitions. Whenever I would compete, he would give me instructions and usually say, ‘You would win today.’ He had so much confidence in me and my game,” he said. He acknowledged that much of his success in the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), on which he holds the record of maximum titles — 20— is due to Rohtas’ influence.

Brandon deSouza, who won 28 PGA titles in India and partnered with Rohtas at four World Cups, shared his admiration for Rohtas. He said, “He was maybe the finest golfer India ever saw. He won over 120 pro titles, so he was the real king.”

DeSouza emphasised their close bond, noting, “I always felt he was part of my family. I remember I taught him how to sign his name. What a great man.”

Reflecting on Rohtas’ humble beginnings, deSouza remarked, “A lot of people talk about being born with a golden spoon. He was just the opposite, born in very humble surroundings.”

He highlighted Rohtas’ generosity, revealing, “Not many people would know that he used to look after 17 people in his family living in Kotla Mubarakpur locality in New Delhi, before moving out to Sultanpur Farms.”

Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, the current president of PGTI, shared his thoughts, saying, “When I started playing golf about 20 years ago, his name was so big that I had not imagined.” He expressed his respect for Rohtas, stating, “What he has done for golf is unparalleled.”

DeSouza reminisced about Rohtas’ love for Indian food during their travels. He recounted, “When we went to Singapore in 1983, he for the first time used a key card to open his hotel room.” He revealed that Rohtas would request, “Captain, make me do anything during the day, but get me Indian food for dinner and I will play under par.” DeSouza emphasized Rohtas’ reliability, noting, “He never went back on his word.”

He also shared a glimpse into their travel challenges, recalling, “More importantly, we travelled overseas for seven or eight months without a credit card or phone. We were stretched on foreign exchange as well, so that was the added pressure.”

A prolific winner

Rohtas was one of the most prolific winners of professional titles in India, despite his unconventional technique. He was a dominant figure in Indian golf, sweeping nearly every tournament in his path. Due to his mastery of the greens and extensive experience, he was affectionately known as “guruji.”

His competitive journey began in 1971 in Bombay, and he secured his first title in 1975 at the DCM Open in New Delhi. After that victory, he became a master at winning, clinching his final title in 2001 at the TNGF Open in Chennai.

Unfortunately, a complete and authentic list of his over 100 professional titles is currently unavailable. It would serve as a fitting tribute to Rohtas if organisations like the IGU or the Professional Golfers Association of India (PGAI) could compile this list.

Some of his significant achievements were highlighted in the November 2018 newsletter of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), which Rohtas considered his second home. According to the newsletter, he won the DCM Open multiple times—in 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1987. He also won the Dunlop Invitational in 1978 and the Wills Masters Open in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985. Other notable victories included the Modi Classic Open in 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1984, as well as the Surya Nepal Open in 1999.

Additionally, he represented India at the World Cup four times during the 1980s.

Another, more detailed list indicates that Rohtas won 69 professional titles and finished as a runner-up on 28 occasions, though this record is still incomplete.

Bhalotia reminisced about the last time he competed against Rohtas, recalling, “It was the 2000 Southern India Open in Bangalore. I won the title and he ended up as the runner-up.” At that moment, in January 2001, Rohtas was ranked sixth on the Order of Merit. However, he was 42 years old, and his decline in performance began after that.

Master of short game

Rohtas had an unconventional style of play. While his swing may not have followed classic techniques, he excelled in the short game—particularly chipping and putting—impressing those who competed against him or marvelled at his skill on the greens.

Bhalotia, who was much younger than Rohtas, recalled, “He had one of the best short games I have ever seen. He could hit any shot he wanted, demonstrating just how precise his touch was. What I appreciated about him was his sportsmanship; he never used intimidation against his juniors.” He shared that he likely played with Rohtas around 30 to 40 times.

Gaurav Ghei, a Delhi-based golfer with three Asian Tour titles, grew up watching Rohtas at the DGC.

“I can clearly remember how skilled he was with his hands. He was a ‘feel’ player with minimal technique. His swing was unique—he would go over and across the line—but his ball-striking ability was fantastic, and he was incredibly steady,” he remarked.

“If he had played on the foreign tour, he would have found great success. However, back then, it was challenging for anyone in India to even consider playing abroad. When I turned pro in 1991, Rohtas was one of the key figures to look up to, alongside Ali Sher and Basad Ali.”

Daniel Chopra, who has two PGA Tour titles, also admired Rohtas as a child. “Even with his somewhat unorthodox swing, I would always watch him hit balls at the DGC. His ability to control his trajectory inspired me to enhance my own skills in shaping shots,” he shared from his home in the USA.

Uttam Singh Mundy, PGTI CEO and a former top golfer, reflected on Rohtas’ unconventional swing. “I played a lot of golf with him, and he has been a flagbearer of Indian golf for decades. He was a true gentleman and an incredible player. He could create magic on the golf course with his unique swing. Whenever he played a tournament, he would almost always finish on the podium,” Mundy stated.

Also read: Delhi pacer Harshit Rana inducted into Test Team

Remaining loyal

Initially, Rohtas played under the IGU banner, like other golfers, and then the PGAI. However, he never joined the PGTI when it started conducting tournaments in 2006. Almost all pros switched allegiance to the newest organisation, barring Rohtas and just a few others.

“Around 140 players resigned from the PGAI and joined the PGTI. At the time, Rohtas was on the board of the PGAI. As he did not come with us, his career pretty much ended. He didn’t believe in what we did [with PGTI’s formation],” says a veteran golfer who switched allegiance.

“From 2006 onwards, he basically became non-existent, and by default, he couldn’t play anymore. And that’s why he probably didn’t get the respect or the recognition that he deserved—because he kind of went to the wrong side,” he explained further.

Rohtas remained loyal to the PGAI throughout his life and was on the PGAI Board of Management until his death.

Humble background

When Rohtas won his first professional title at the 1975 DCM Open in New Delhi, he did so using borrowed clubs and wearing slippers, as noted by Vikramjit Singh, an Arjuna Awardee and former top golfer who also competed in that event.

Singh recalled, “At the time he won the DCM Open, he was not financially well off. He played the tournament in slippers. He would take off the slippers to hit a shot and then put them back on to walk around. He actually played barefoot; the slippers were just for walking across the course. The clubs he used to win were not from the same brand—it seemed they were borrowed or gifted from different people.”

Reflecting on Rohtas’ abilities, Singh shared, “I played a lot of golf with him and was very fond of him. In my view, he was better than anyone else on the professional circuit in India. He had a lot of skill and was very self-confident. What was lovely about him was his humility; he had no airs about himself. He was always respectful and definitely more likable than most golfers I know at the Delhi Golf Club.”

Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia, who had the honour of being Rohtas’ roommate multiple times on the Indian tour, shared his admiration as well.

“As a kid, I watched Rohtas play in Kolkata. When I started playing golf, I aimed to be his roommate because I was a rookie eager to learn from him. We also had similar backgrounds,” he recounted. “During our time together, he encouraged me to stay positive at all times. His teachings were on my mind when I reached my first pro final in 2001 in Delhi.”

An inspiration for kids

For Gaurav Ghei and Daniel Chopra, Rohtas was a significant source of inspiration during their upbringing at the DGC. Ghei reflected, “As a child, I was fascinated by his game. He was very encouraging and helpful, especially towards me. Growing up at the DGC, I would watch him practice and follow him, which was truly inspirational.”

He said, “Although he never played on the foreign tour, I believe he would have been successful if he had. One of the reasons he didn’t was the lack of sponsorship during his time.”

Chopra echoed similar sentiments, recalling his first encounter with Rohtas when he was just ten years old. “He was always supportive of me, even though he probably didn’t notice me until I was around 12 or 13 and started winning some junior tournaments.”

Chopra described Rohtas as “soft-spoken and very humble.” He remembered asking him, “How many tournaments have you won?” Rohtas replied, “I don’t know. Probably more than one hundred!” Chopra found this response remarkable: “He never cared about records; he only cared about the game. I’ll never forget that. The true greats focus on playing rather than on their achievements.”

Indrajit Bhalotia and Ghei were also captivated by a quirky non-golfing habit of Rohtas. “He was a chain smoker on the golf course, always having a cigarette in hand during rounds. He could effortlessly run his finger over the flame to get rid of the ash without burning himself. I still wonder how he managed to be so precise,” Bhalotia shared.

In every aspect, Rohtas was not just a golfer; he was truly regarded as “guruji” beyond the greens.

The writer is a senior journalist based in Delhi and has covered sports for over three decades.