There’s a well-known saying in golf that the journey to success shouldn’t be a dash however relatively it’s a marathon. Having first devoted herself to the game on the age of eight these phrases of knowledge resonate with 22-year-old LPGA rookie Savannah Grewal.
Rising up in Mississauga, Ontario, younger Savannah was first launched to the game by her mom Katarina on the age of six. She recollects her humble beginnings from her first golf lesson.
“I’ve a video from that lesson the place I swung and missed on my first shot,” she stated with fun. “However I bear in mind it was a number of enjoyable.”
Grewal was additionally launched to soccer, tennis, gymnastics, and ballet however she discovered her ardour within the sport of golf. A lot in order that on the age of eight she declared to her mother and father that her objective was to make it onto the LPGA at some point.
Her mother and father have been supportive of these ambitions however emphasised that attaining a objective like that wouldn’t occur in a single day and would require a long-term dedication to steady enchancment.
The Canadian Nationwide Workforce Member remembers going to the golf course along with her dad, Ashoak, and practising for hours upon hours.
“My objective use to be to hit 500 to a 1000 golf balls a day. So there have been simply numerous hours on the golf course making an attempt to get higher,” she recalled.
“I cherished the truth that golf wasn’t like another sport. There are such a lot of totally different facets to work on. You possibly can work in your driving, pitching, your iron recreation, bunker recreation, placing, and so on.”
Grewal recollects a powerful consequence at a prestigious junior match that reaffirmed her perception that she was on the suitable path to success.
“I bear in mind going to the U.S. Children World Championship which was a giant deal again then and never doing too good the primary time and going again the next yr and ending high 15. I feel I used to be 9 or 10 round that point and it was motivation that I used to be heading in the right direction.”
Former LPGA Tour professional and Nationwide Workforce member Rebecca Lee-Bentham recollects her beneficial first impression of Grewal.
“I feel I used to be in my second yr on (LPGA) Tour on the time and she or he should have been round 12 and her coached requested me to play a number of holes along with her. My first impression was that she and her dad had an identical drive to what my dad and I had rising up.”
That drive and dedication for fulfillment on the golf course required Grewal to make some sacrifices.
“The winters are chilly in Canada so I used to go to Florida from January to April to coach there,” recalled Grewal, who additionally missed her highschool commencement as a result of she was competing in a match.
She provides that it was troublesome to see her buddies on social media doing enjoyable issues whereas she was in a distinct nation engaged on her recreation. However Grewal took consolation in having the complete assist of her household; and having readability on why she was making that sacrifice.
“I used to be lucky to have my grandparents with me and I all the time knew what my finish objective was and knew it was only a stepping stone on that journey,” she stated.
Her success as a junior would see her win the Drive, Chip and Putt match for the women 14-15 class in 2017 at Augusta Nationwide. The next yr in 2018 she gained the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior match.
Grewal would go on to play collegiate golf for the Clemson Tigers.
“Taking part in at Clemson has been wonderful. It has a family-oriented setting and it was nice to win the ACC group championship final yr,” she stated.
“My teammates are a few of my finest buddies and I’ve good recollections of hanging out put up spherical as we might all the time go get dinner after which ice cream after.”
The Mississauga, Ont., native can be grateful to be a part of the Canadian Nationwide Workforce Program.
“It’s nice as a result of we get the chance to compete in a number of the largest tournaments in opposition to the very best on the earth. And it’s all the time particular to characterize your nation on a giant stage.”
A particular second for Grewal and her household got here final December when she realized her childhood dream and earned her LPGA Tour card after ending in a tie for tenth spot on the LPGA Q-Collection.
The 5 foot 4 inch Grewal was taking part in her A recreation which noticed her make the most of her sturdy ball hanging together with a constant iron recreation; and that allowed her to hit a number of greens.
“Total, I felt I used to be actually regular. I hit some good photographs, made some putts once I wanted and didn’t get into any actual hassle,” she famous.
Whereas the six rounds of the LPGA Q-Collection final December have been very very like a marathon of kinds, Grewal paced herself completely and spoke about her feelings as she was about to cross the end line in a tie for tenth spot.
“I attempted not to consider it, however strolling onto 18 after hitting the inexperienced, I knew this was it I used to be going to get my LPGA Tour card and it type of felt surreal,” she recalled.
“I blacked out a bit, it didn’t really feel like I used to be dwelling in actuality. It felt all of the arduous work put in was paying off.”
Grewal says attaining her childhood dream was that a lot sweeter figuring out she is ready to share that success with these closest to her.
“My grandma known as me afterwards and cried. It was a big day and proud achievement for our total household,” she stated.
“My grandparents on my dad’s facet immigrated to Canada from India and labored very arduous to present their youngsters the very best alternatives. Listening to their tales impressed me to work simply as arduous as a solution to give respect again and be somebody that they’d be pleased with,” Grewal added.
Having adopted Grewal’s journey since their unique assembly a few years in the past, Lee-Bentham is optimistic in regards to the LPGA Tour rookie’s future.
“I’ve seen Savannah do some wonderful issues throughout her collegiate profession and I’m excited for her new journey on the LPGA Tour,” Lee-Bentham stated.
“Golf Canada has put a number of effort through the years to assist gamers like myself and the brand new technology of golfers. It simply goes to indicate that success isn’t made in a single day and it takes an entire group for one participant to make it,” she added.
“Savannah has her complete household and nation supporting her and I consider she is able to better issues to come back.”
Moreover setting her sights on stepping into the winner’s circle on the LPGA, the 22-year-old has ambitions of representing Canada at some point on the Olympics.
One attention-grabbing truth is her brother, Jordan, performs desk tennis for the Canadian Nationwide Desk Tennis group, so her dream can be to each compete for Canada on the similar Olympics. He was additionally her caddy lately on the Blue Bay match in China the place she completed in a tie for fourth place.
The LPGA rookie is aware of the journey on this subsequent chapter would require that very same self-discipline and focus to tempo herself to attain long run success.
“Now’s an entire new chapter in my profession,” stated Grewal.
“This rookie season, I simply need to work arduous and be as aggressive as I can. I need to keep regular, by no means get forward of myself, simply compete; and hopefully, I will probably be in rivalry.”
