A year into the big bad world of pro golf, and not yet out of his teens, Gaganjeet Bhullar is making it clear he’s not here to kid around.

The Kapurthala lad, who will be part of golf’s February Fiesta even before that 20-candle celebration, may still have traces of the puppy fat, but his game has a meanness far beyond.

After a highly successful junior and amateur career — he won the amateur order of merit in 2004 and 2006, grabbed the World Junior Masters Championship in 2005 and was then part of the silver medal-winning team at the Doha Asian Games — the transition to the big boys’ club has been as smooth.

In the past domestic pro season—his first—Bhullar had two second-place finishes and his fifth place on the order of merit list ensured spots at the three big events lined up in the country the coming month.

But the exploits have not been reserved for home greens. With a conditional card of the Asian Tour, Bhullar’s famously long drives and stable head took him to the brink of the title in Indonesia in the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational in October last year. With a stroke lead, Bhullar looked on in disbelief in the clubhouse as Philippines’ Javic Pagunsan shot a last-hole eagle to snatch it away.

Confidence oozing from his attitude on the course, Bhullar refuses to accept the near misses as a case of nerves. “I have numerous amateur titles, I know how to win. In Indonesia it was just bad luck, I could do nothing about Pagunsan’s great shot,” he says on Wednesday, after shooting a tied second place four-under on Day One of the PGTI Solaris Chemtech Open.

“But last season’s experience has made me realise my level of competence. I know I can win. A title would certainly be an added confidence boost, but I’m confident now too.”

The breakthrough season has landed him a country spot now on the continental tour. That guarantees him ten starts.

Looking to warm up here this week for the big events coming up, Bhullar says he’s just excited to be able to play. “It’s just great that we have world class competition right here and so many of us get to play.

“It will be great to test oneself against this quality field and I’m sure all of us will be better for the experience, good or bad,” he says.