Shahi earned his Asian Tour card last month after qualifying in Thailand. It marked the first time Shahi, a three-year UCI golfer, set foot in the country.
When I spoke with Shahi by phone last week, he was en route to Los Angeles International Airport. He was headed for Taipei, Taiwan, then on to Bangkok, Thailand, to begin apartment hunting. When asked about the qualifying, his competitive nature emerged.
“I was disappointed I didn’t win the thing,” Shahi said. “I hate losing.”
He finished in a seven-way tie for 11th place, four shots more than winner Artemio Murakami, in the final stage of qualifying (70-70-67-72 – 279) at the Palm Hills & Springfield Village in Hua Hin, Thailand, on Jan. 16.
He said putting was most difficult and held him back. “I made a few mistakes here and there, but I didn’t let it get to me… “I have a place to play.”
Shahi anticipates playing in 15 to 16 tournaments later this year with the goal of returning to play on U.S. soil next year.
For the last two years, the top 65 players on the Asian Tour money list kept their cards for the following season. The number for this season will be determined by Tournament Players Committee members later this year, said Chuah Choo Chiang, the Asian Tour’s media director.
Shahi joined El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel, seven months ago and spent a majority of practice time working on his short game. UCI men’s golf coach Paul Smolinski challenged Shahi to chipping and putting contests. Shahi said Smolinski won most of those, but those contests fueled Shahi’s work ethic.
Shahi has also worked on his fitness. He’s down to 195 pounds from 235 pounds at graduation last year. He spends two hours at the gym and tries playing “every sport.”
