PAPWA

Illiterate, born to a blind mother, and living in a shack, his father dies when he is 10 years old, and he goes to work and becomes a golf caddy. Discovered at 27, playing with a reverse grip by Graham Wulff the inventor of Oil of Olay, he is not allowed to play on ’white’ golf courses or play in events. SAA makes it difficult to fly as he is an Indian, so Wulff flies him hopping through Africa to the 1959 British Open where he qualifies. He then plays in the Dutch Open which he wins. On his return, he is met by 100,000 cheering Indians. The apartheid government takes note. He won the Dutch Open 3 times in 4 attempts. Finally allowed to play in the 1963 Natal Open, which he wins, banned from entering the clubhouse, he is handed his trophy in the rain, which outrages India who proceeds to have SA banned from the 1964 Olympics. Papwa then loses the South African Open by 1-shot. An assassination attempt then fails. Allowed to play once again in the 1965 Natal Open, he beats Gary Player, whereupon he is banned from playing in further white tournaments in SA. By now he is the figurehead of the anti-apartheid sports movement. He plays in the 1967 Indian Open where he is treated like a film star and receives a wonderful offer of head professional at the Calcutta Country Club, which he turns down. Upon his return, his passport is withdrawn. It is several years before his passport is returned and by this time his prime years have passed. He won 10 non-European Open titles, but the prize was minimal funds and liquor. He died at 49, destitute and an alcoholic.