‘JACK NICKLAUS OF MALAYSIA’
MALAYSIAN golf shed a tear yesterday.
One
of its pioneering heroes, P. Gunasegaran died at Selayang Hospital at 10am. He
was 53.
Gunasegaran’s
son Yogendran, said his father passed away from multiple organ failure due to a
stroke that he had suffered a few days ago.
Fellow
professional Airil Rizman, said Gunasegaran suffered his first stroke a few
years back.
Popularly
known as P. Gunasegaran or Guna, he was best remembered for his heroics in the
1994 Malaysian Open at Royal Selangor Golf Club.
He
played the best final round of his life when he got into an epic eight-hole
playoff with Frank Nobilo and Joakim Haegmann.
In
an exclusive interview with Golf
Digest Malaysia in 2011, Gunasegaran finally
told the nation what had happened that fateful Sunday.
“People
were asking what’s going on, what happened to my life and how could I have
missed that crucial putt in the playoff to lose the Malaysian Open title and
where did I go from there,” Gunasegaran recalled.
“I
had two chances to win during the playoff but I missed putts from 12 feet. I
made some mistakes.”
He
added: “At the end of the day, I could honestly say I had given my best shot,
went all out in that tournament for the country and for myself.
“I
kept my cool for that final putt but sometimes in golf, just like in life
itself, things do not work out the way you planned and I missed the putt.
Disappointed? Definitely.
“That
was a big miss indeed. But, I wouldn’t cry over spilled milk and feel miserable
my whole life.
“I
shunned the media spotlight, because there was nothing to be told or glorified
about that missed putt. To me, it’s just another game which I didn’t win.”
Together
with former pro M. Ramayah, Gunasegaran brought golf into the forefront by
regularly performing well on the local and international circuits.
They
were the top two golfers in the country and were the go-to guys when the
national team came calling.
During
the 1990s when on the rare occasions golf events were televised, Malaysians
loved to tune in and watch these two gentlemen play alongside the world’s best
golfers.
Gunasegaran
rarely disappointed.
Coming
from a modest income family, Gunasegaran had to fight all his life to make a
decent living.
He
started as caddie in his hometown of Kuala Kubu Baru in 1972, earning a mere
RM0.80 before getting a raise to RM2.50.
He
turned pro 20 years later, but not before winning a SEA Games gold medal in
1989.
He
was also planning to open an academy at his old club as a way of giving back to
the game.
Before
his death, there was uncertainty and confusion among the golf fraternity as it
was initially reported he had died on Friday.
It
turned out to be untrue as he was still on life support but by which time, many
had paid tribute and expressed their condolences.
It
all started on Tuesday when a relative went to check on him after friends and
family were unable to reach him for almost three days.
They
noticed he was alone at home and in distress. He could not move and had
probably not eaten anything for the three days he was unreachable.
Paramedics
were summoned and they rushed Gunasegaran to Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital on
Tuesday night where he was placed under observation.
At
4am Wednesday morning, they moved the 1989 SEA Games gold medallist to Hospital
Selayang where he had a stroke the following day.
He
hung on for two more days before taking his last breathe.
Gunasegaran
leaves wife N. Nalina, 38, son Yogendran, 21, and daughters, Thanusha, 18, and
Thanushini, 14.
● Patrick Ho is editor of
Golf Digest Malaysia
Golf Digest Malaysia
TRIBUTES
R.
Nachimuthu (former national golfer)
“We
have been travelling together the past two years since his health started
deteriorating. He couldn’t handle the long drives alone. We shared a lot about
golf and how we could improve our game. He was a very quiet person and kept
mostly to himself. I enjoyed our trips as he was someone I looked up to as a
senior. He always had time to give me advice when I needed it. I’ll miss him.”
M.
Ramayah (former national golfer)
“He
was someone who had strong beliefs. If he felt he was right he would not budge
and always stood up for his friends. When he was Malaysia’s No 1, he didn’t
look for sponsors. He was a fierce fighter on the course and a gentleman off
it. He had been taking medicine for kidney, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Two years ago he stopped taking medicine as it was getting too expensive. Guna
said he was doing fine without it after a year of not taking medicine
regularly.”
B.
Rajkumar (former national athlete)
“He
was my childhood friend. He was a quiet person, very confident in his
abilities. Guna never hurt anyone and would lend a helping hand if needed.”
Gavin Green
(professional golfer)
“He
was a legend and his success paved the way for many! I see him as the Jack
Nicklaus of Malaysia. He was hard working and determined and most importantly,
he truly did love golf.”
Danny
Chia
(professional golfer)
(professional golfer)
“Guna
was a quiet person but when he talks, it’s straight to the point. He inspired
me a lot, especially when he almost won the Malaysian Open. He has done so much
for professional golf in Malaysia. He will be missed.”
Airil
Rizman
(professional golfer)
(professional golfer)
“He
was definitely a great man and an idol to all of us. True definition of hard
work pays off. RIP.”
Nicholas
Fung (professional golfer)
“It’s
a loss for Malaysian golf. His presence and contributions will always be
remembered.”
By Tony Mariadass
Guna’s green, green grass of home
[Interview conducted May, 2016 in Kuala Kubu Baru]
Golfer Periasamy Gunasegaran is still
staying relevant in the game thanks to his club – Kuala Kubu Baru Golf and
Country Club (KKBGC) – and close friends from this town.
Born and bred in this small town,
Gunasegaran, who is still best remembered as the closest to being the first
Malaysian to win the Malaysian Open in 1994 when he lost in an epic eight-hole
play-off to Sweden’s Joakim Haeggmann, is still making a name for himself at
the game.
At 53, Gunasegeran won the Asian
Senior Master 2016 at the Tering Bay Golf and Country Club in Batam in early
April to book the only ticket from Asia to compete in the PGA Senior Tour
champions event – the Insperity Invitational (May 2-8) - at the Woodlands
Country Club in Houston.
Playing in a field of 81 golfers
which was rated as one the strongest field of the Tour, Gunasegaran had for
company the who’s who list of golfers with the likes of 2015 champion Ian
Woosnam , seven other past winners of the event—Larry Nelson (2004), Mark
McNulty (2005), Jay Haas (2006), John Cook (2009), Brad Faxon (2011), Fred Funk
(2012) and Esteban Toledo (2013) and in addition, five World Golf Hall-of-Fame
members - Tom Kite, Mark O’Meara, Curtis Strange, Colin Montgomerie and Sandy
Lyle.
“I was simply amazed at field. It was
a lifetime dream come true as the field had a combination of golf’s legends,
new PGA tour champions members, Hall of Fame members and the best players in
the world age 50 and over,” said Gunasegran who finished 48th.
“You say anything about these
legends, but they were a friendly lot who had time for everyone. I was not only
rubbing shoulders with them, but had them giving words of encouragement and having
conversations with them. It was an experience of a lifetime for me.”
Guansegeran said that he had to thank
his club, where he had started off as a caddy in 1972 to have become an amateur
golfer, a professional and still playing.
“I owe it to my club members who have
very supportive in me making golf a career. Without their financial support I
will not have achieved all I have till date,” said the resident pro of KKBGC.
“Besides my club, another hometown
friend, S. Gopi, a successful businessman has been very supportive and if for
his substantial contribution I would not have made it to Houston,” said
Gunasegaran who had to spend about RM17,000 for the US trip besides another
RM5,000 for the qualifier in Batam.
“I am also indebted to my equipment
sponsor – Srixon – who have supported me for the last 20 years.”
Gunasegran started caddying with his
childhood buddy, B. Rajkumar – the Asian Track and Field championship 800m gold
medallist in 1985 in Jakarta and who still holds the national record with his
winning time of 1.47.37
“Rajukumar was an excellent golfer
too and a single handicapper. But he choose to take up athletics, while I
decided it was golf for me,” said Gunasegaran who still plays with Rajkumar at
the club course.
Gunasegeran who was a member of the
Sea Games gold medal winning team at the 1989 Games in Kuala Lumpur and
individual silver at the 1991 Manila Sea, turned professional in 1992 winning
his first title as a pro at the Singapore PGA the same year. There has been no
looking back since then winning numerous titles.
KKB has been a haven for top golfers
for besides, Gunasegaran, it has had two other professionals – R. Narchimuthu
and late A. Dorairaj.
Guansegaran is hoping that a fourth
golfer from KKBGC will do the small town proud, but said that things have
changed from the time they used to play.
“We hardly get any local boys playing
here. Almost everyone has left for the brighter city lights. Those days, the
golf course was our source of extra income as schoolboys. We caddied and earned
starting with 80 sen and in the later years, about RM2.50 for a round of 18
holes.
“Today we have no caddies. The
golfers use the buggy.”
But Gunasegeran still remains very
relevant at KKBGC as he is looked upon by the members for tips in the game and
also to have him play a round of game with them.
“I do conduct coaching course to
individuals who approach me. Tried to start a gold academy here, but there was
little response.”
Gunasegaran said he is just happy
with what he is doing and playing in senior tournaments from time to time,
while KKBGC will remain his home forever.
1 comment:
awesome
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