Raghav Chugh remains motivated as golf career blooms at Rice
HOUSTON (BVM) 鈥� Raghav Chugh established himself as one of the best collegiate golfers in the country with Conference USA Freshman of the Year Honors in 2022. Now the Rice University standout aims to become the next Indian golfer to make it to the PGA Tour, and he鈥檚 carrying plenty of motivation to make that dream a reality.
Growing up, Chugh was interested in cricket, , but with most of the country playing it, he and his family soon realized that his talents might be on the links.聽
鈥淕olf isn鈥檛 so big in India,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淚 used to play cricket, and my grandfather enrolled me in a summer [golf] program back in the summer of 2012. He got me into it, and he used to take me every day, and once he saw that I started getting good, he told me I should probably leave cricket and focus on golf.鈥�
Chugh鈥檚 skills began to flourish, and they led him to become the No. 1 ranked junior player in India and take home a five-stroke victory at the 2019 U.S. Kids Golf World Teen Championship at Pinehurst No. 2. There were a lot of things that helped him accomplish what he did, and that included looking up to Tiger Woods.聽
鈥淲hen I started playing golf, Tiger was injured, and he was going through a rough patch,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen highlights of his game, but I didn鈥檛 see him at his peak. But when he came back in 2019 and won The Masters, he said in a press conference, 鈥榃hen I show up to a tournament, I show up because I know I can win,鈥� and he actually did it at 43, and that was really impressive.鈥�
Following a player like Woods has benefits, and Chugh has seen those come to fruition by implementing Woods鈥� mindset into his own game.
鈥淲henever he鈥檚 on the course, it鈥檚 like he鈥檚 there for business,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know any sportsman who plays to come in second or third. They鈥檙e always there to win.鈥�
Chugh also finds inspiration from , who played at Pepperdine University and is currently on the PGA Tour.聽
Sahith Theegala chips in for birdie on No. 16 to move into a tie for third place.
— The Masters (@TheMasters)
鈥淚 look up to Sahith, and I鈥檝e played golf with him,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 also trying to get golf big in India because he鈥檚 got family there, but his career is young. It鈥檚 only his second or third year on the PGA Tour, but he鈥檚 done a lot already.鈥�
The impact family has on an athlete can be unique, and Chugh鈥檚 family still motivates him, and they keep up with how he does with the Owls.聽
鈥淗e [his grandfather] still talks to me every day and asks me about my game,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淗e follows my scores and how I鈥檝e been doing over here. He鈥檚 been my main inspiration.鈥�
With plenty of encouragement from those around him, Chugh was looking to grow as a golfer and person. That鈥檚 when he decided attending Rice was in his best interest.聽聽
鈥淲hen I decided to play college golf, I wanted to get a good academic degree at the same time,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淵ou never know what could happen going into the future. You could get injured or something, so it鈥檚 always a good backup plan, and coming to Rice was harder than I initially thought it was going to be, and it鈥檚 taught me a lot, like time management and discipline.鈥�
Chugh adds a birdie on the 11th hole.
— Rice Men's Golf (@RiceMGolf)
With Chugh finding a place to continue his academic career, he鈥檚 also seen more success on the course. Last season he was named , and this season, he鈥檚 been awarded Conference USA Golfer of the Week three times. He also knows that plenty of pressure comes with performing at the D-I level, but he isn’t letting it affect him.
Another One!
Raghav Chugh earns third Golfer of the Week award this year
馃摪 禄 馃憪 x
— Rice Men's Golf (@RiceMGolf)
鈥淎ny sports person that says they don’t get any pressure, that鈥檚 not true,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淵ou have to embrace it. It shouldn鈥檛 bog you down or hinder your performance. It should help you embrace the pressure, and that鈥檚 how I’ve always looked at it. I want to enjoy my game, and pressure is going to be there, but if I鈥檓 doing everything I can and I do my best, it doesn鈥檛 matter how it ends.鈥�
Chugh is sure to continue his young and exciting career with the Owls and make waves in golf, but he also knows that golf has done a lot for him and will continue to be a cornerstone in his life.
鈥淕olf is my happy place,鈥� Chugh said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine doing anything else except playing golf. I spend a majority of my time playing golf, so if I were to look back and see how I would spend my days and evenings after school, I would鈥檝e been so bored if it wasn鈥檛 for golf. It鈥檚 one of the main constants in my life.鈥�
