VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND | Aaron Rai’s father, Amrik Singh, was not watching when his son won this year’s PGA Championship at Aronimink in May.
“I was actually in my camper van,” he told GGP ahead of this week’s BMW PGA Championship on the West Course at Wentworth. “I parked it in a nice spot in Shropshire called Ironbridge (a World Heritage Site). I watched the film ‘Rush Hour 2’ and then I had a little sleep.”
As unlikely as this approach seems for a father whose son is in contention for a first major championship success, it makes absolute sense for Singh.
“I like to find a quiet place away from the action when he plays,” he said. “Little corners of the clubhouse, that type of thing. For me it’s not about the result – it’s about something else.
“It’s something I know Aaron will have gone through, something we’ve always adhered to, something we’ve always trusted.”
Singh paused and smiled.
“It’s about the process.”
Even a cursory knowledge of the on-course methods of the 31-year-old Englishman would appreciate that he is process-driven – it’s clear with every shot he takes – and yet it runs even deeper than many might suspect.
Consider his career path since turning professional in 2012.
It began, by design, on the third tier of European golf. He graduated after two seasons, enjoyed a year of consolidation on what is now known as the HotelPlanner Tour, and then, in his second season, claimed three victories to earn battlefield promotion to the DP World Tour.
As a rookie he retained his card, in his second year he became a winner, in his third he ended the season ranked inside the top 10 on the Race to Dubai.
And so to America: first year, playing rights preserved, second year, occasional contender, third year, winner.
At every step it is careful, considered, and confidence-building.
Singh smiled again: “Process.”
“He’s always loved a plan. But he’s even better at sticking to it.” – Amrik Singh
The word also neatly describes how Singh introduced his son to the game.
Aged 5 Rai started competing in Wee Wonders junior tournaments and when he discovered that Nailcote Hall in Warwickshire would be hosting an event on its par-3 course he was eager for a recce.
What Singh and Rai never knew was the extent to which that trip would change their lives.
On the one hand, young Rai was taken with the layout, but also already thinking ahead, detailing a plan of attack that had him laying up short of all but one of the greens (and finding the best angles into the greens he would be shunning).
“He’s always loved a plan,” said Singh. “But he’s even better at sticking to it.”
Watching this from his mower was the course owner Rick Cressman.
“I remember it so clearly,” Cressman told GGP. “This little boy whirling away with a Callaway driver that was taller than he was and practising around the greens until it got dark.”
Singh laughed. “I remember that first day as well,” he said. “Aaron kept bumping an approach into the eighth green, the same shot time and again. Rick loved it and we got chatting. He told us we could come down any time we liked and to this day we’ve never had any restrictions.”
The little course became a golfing home.
“Sometimes there would just be the three of us,” said Cressman. “Amrik, Aaron and me in the wind and the rain.”
“Aaron would finish school, come here, do his work, then we’d go back home,” said Singh. “I’ll never be able to pay Rick back for what he’s done for us. I just can’t. He’s been wonderful.”
Elsewhere, however, it was different.
Through U.S. Kids Golf Singh had learned about juniors teeing off from a distance that allowed them to hit greens in regulation (moving backwards as they improved). He liked the idea.
“In his own world Aaron was a scratch golfer from the age of 5,” he said.
The approach left them at odds with club and county competitions, however. Singh didn’t have an issue with that, but some clubs were offended by the mere notion of permitting a youngster to play as Rai did.
At a course near their home city of Wolverhampton a member observed Rai teeing it up from a distance determined by his father.
“The member walked up and asked what we were doing so I explained,” said Singh. “His face went red and he said: ‘How dare you reduce our course to a pitch and putt.’ It wasn’t the only time things like that happened.”
“I first played [the BMW PGA] in 2018 and it was an absolute dream just to compete in it. I came here as a junior and loved being able to walk the course, watching some of the legends of European and world golf play.” – Aaron Rai
If the institutionalised nature of golf left many bewildered and sometimes aggressive, Singh was happy to play the long game.
“It was difficult to play in the accepted system,” he said. “We didn’t really fit it and no one had the vision to accept a different way of looking at it.”
A way of looking at it that is, of course, familiar: careful, considered, and confidence-building.
Singh smiled again and nodded. “Process.”
Twenty years on, as the world watched Rai complete victory, his father was content.
“I knew what was going on, but I don’t get nervous when he’s playing,” he said. “I woke up about 1 a.m., turned on my phone and saw all the messages. I stayed very quiet and I smiled.
“Aaron did actually try to ring me. He called from the recorder’s hut and when I didn’t answer he said: ‘Dad will be in his camper van sleeping.’”
Two days later Singh travelled out to the States with his friend and Rai’s sponsor, Shabir Randeree.
“I hugged him and Aaron’s perceptive,” he said. “A few days later he told someone that his dad had hugged him and the hug was just a little bit different.”
And now to Wentworth, a course that holds many memories for the family.
“I first played [the BMW PGA] in 2018 and it was an absolute dream just to compete in it,” Rai said ahead of the first round. “I came here as a junior and loved being able to walk the course, watching some of the legends of European and world golf play.”
At the putting green he spotted Ernie Els and asked him: “Are you the real jolly giant?”
The big South African chuckled and said: “Sometimes.”
Later, Singh would take Rai back to Wentworth to get his first set of fitted clubs.
His affection for the West Course has reaped rewards with top-four finishes in each of the last three years.
It would be no great surprise if Rai contends again this week.
The real question then might be: “Where’s his dad?”