Ganesh in Pursuit of Augusta National Ambition

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Nateesh Ganesh, a US-based collegiate golfer, is eager to launch a title challenge at this month’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in pursuit of a childhood ambition.

At New Zealand’s Te Arai Links from October 29 to November 1, the 21-year-old Malaysian will make his fourth start in the region’s premier amateur championship, having last competed in 2023.

He will arrive as an NCAA Division I winner in the US following a breakthrough victory at Torrey Pines in March.

Now he hopes to become the first Malaysian to play in the Masters.

The winner of the 17th edition of the AAC will receive an invitation to the Masters Tournament and an exemption into The Open next year. The championship was launched in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the region.

“It would mean the world to me and my family … the first Malaysian to get to the Masters,” he said.

A junior at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, Ganesh hopes to contend at Te Arai Links against the cream of the region’s amateur talent, including defending champion Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee of Thailand, last year’s runner-up Taisei Nagasaki of Japan, Filipino Jaden Dumdumaya, China’s Zhou Zhiqin and Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh.

“A couple of years ago, I’d say it’ll be a great experience to play in the tournament and fun to play cool courses,” said Ganesh, who has five other top-10 finishes this year to go with his UC San Diego Invitational title.

“But nowadays, I view it differently. If I win this, I get to play in the Majors. As an amateur, it’s such an honour. You get a chance to compete and if you play well, you get to tee up in the Masters and The Open. The Asia-Pacific Amateur is a great opportunity to get to the top-tier.”

For many youngsters, the Masters and The Open are tournaments to aspire to, and Ganesh’s dream began back in his hometown of Malacca when he first picked up a plastic club at the age of three.

With his father working in the golf industry, he became hooked on the sport after watching Tiger Woods dominate. Such was Woods’ influence that Ganesh would wear apparel brands associated with the 14-time Major champion.

“Since young, I have been a Tiger fan. I would watch him swing a club and try to emulate, and it’s still one of my goals to meet him some day,” said Ganesh, whose previous appearances at the AAC resulted in missed cuts in 2021 and 2022 before he finished tied 63rd in 2023.

“I have watched the Masters so many times and know the great holes of Augusta National like the 12th, 16th and 18th. If I get to play in it …. no, when I play there one day, hopefully it’ll be to play four rounds at the Masters.”

Ganesh and Fifa have crossed paths during their junior days, and the Malaysian was delighted when the Thai won the AAC in Dubai last October before competing in the Masters and The Open this year.

To date, no Malaysian has played in the Masters, which is fuelling Ganesh’s determination to excel in New Zealand. He added that his amateur journey has been challenging, while the opportunity to play at LMU has provided a huge boost.

“I got into golf at the age of three and would hit buckets of balls at the range. While the balls didn’t go far, my parents supported me as they saw I was really into it. There were challenges but it provided the fire in me to try harder, to get better. My parents invested their time and money into me. That’s why they sent me to the US. They are the reason why I’m doing this,” he said.

LMU Head Coach Jason D’Amore believes Ganesh has the talent to become a top golfer.

“The win at Torrey Pines gave him the self-belief he needed to measure up against the best players in our game. I don’t think it will be the last win he has,” said D’Amore.

“Nateesh has a terrific short game. His putting and short game are his super powers. He also is very accurate with his ball striking and keeps the ball in play, always giving himself a chance to score. I think he has a great head on his shoulders that helps him stay mentally present and focused on what is in front of him.”

College life in the US has meant being away from his family, but Ganesh believes competing against the best collegiate golfers in the US will sharpen his game and prepare him for a future in professional golf.

“It’s tough when you’re abroad on your own. You’re sometimes struggling, you don’t see your parents. There’s a lot of sacrifices. I want to be a professional golfer, and it’ll be great to make it the PGA Tour one day … that’s the dream,” he said.

“It was pretty sick to win at Torrey Pines, and I don’t know any other cool place to have done this. Some events humble you and some give you a boost. This one boosted my confidence for sure. If I am playing good golf, I feel I can beat anyone.”