Gaganjeet Bhullar confesses that "pressure is part of the game" in elite-level golf, revealing that he would once again use special tools to help defend his BNI Indonesian Masters title against a tough field at Royale Jakarta Golf Club this week.
Last year, the Indian, an 11-time Asian Tour champion, won by five strokes over young compatriot Karandeep Khochhar after a remarkable 24-under-par wire-to-wire triumph.
Heading into the seventh of ten events on The International Series this week, he said: "When it comes to pressure, the answer is yes, I do feel it. I'm sure many of the reigning champs feel pressure; it's part of the game.
When it comes to overcoming such pressure, the 36-year-old has had plenty of practice, since his maiden Asian Tour title came in the same nation in 2009, at the Indonesia President Invitation.
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Gaganjeet Bhullar. Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
"You know, you work hard for years and try to make your mind much more stable, much stronger by practicing various things like yoga, meditation, or whatever.
"These are the elements that will help you improve as a player over time. And, in my opinion, meditation has played a significant influence.
"Over the years, I've done this almost every day. That is perhaps one of the reasons we can withstand some of the pressure."
Explaining his regimen, he stated: "It has remained consistent for the last, perhaps, 20 years. I get up early every morning and meditate for eight to ten minutes. And this has transformed me throughout the years. I relax on the golf course. On the course, I find that I can better regulate my emotions. I believe it is one area in which I have genuinely improved."
Over half of Bhullar's 11 triumphs have come in Indonesia, and he's on a roll that implies another win is on the way, having finished T7 at the Black Mountain Championship and T19 at the International Series Thailand.
Anyone who witnessed last year's near-perfect performance will understand that the Indian, who competed in this summer's Olympics, should not be overlooked. He stated, "It's a wonderful joy to be back in Indonesia. Last year, it was 24 under, wire-to-wire. This golf course, and this nation, are very significant to me. This nation has always been a lucky charm for me. I ended up playing well last year, so the preparations are excellent. I've been playing decently in recent weeks. So, I believe the game is getting back in form, and I'm hoping for a good outcome this week."