As future perfect turned into simple present, Abhishek Jha did pinch himself once.

The wait was over for the biggest week yet of his young career, and from morning to evening, the Bangalore boy had a swing of emotions. “On TV they seem like a world away... twice removed. But seeing all the big names right there, I suddenly realised that they were just players, like us,” he says.

The 20-year-old finished last season as the second-ranked amateur on the circuit, but unlike earlier years, the prize this year was a ticket straight into simply another league.

With two amateur spots reserved for the Indian Masters, Jha gets to get a feel of golf's big month from the inside.

“We’ve, most of us, have never experienced anything like this before, so it feels somewhat strange. But I think only when we look at them closely, see them swing, play, putt, will we set our bar higher,” he explains.

“From one Asian Tour event last year to four world-class fields this year, I think what is happening is just great for all of us.

“And if an Indian does well, wins, it'll get only bigger. We might get some new events. The interest will go up for sure,” he says. With the domestic tour qualifying school scheduled only for December this year, there is a full season in amateur ranks yet for Jha. And he has decided to make the most of it before taking the big plunge into the professional grind.

“It's good in a way. I'll get to travel for events outside the country with the team and that can only polish my game. But I'm confident of making it through and surviving on our tour.”

Survival is not what he’s thinking of for this week, though. “I’m not thinking much ahead, in terms of the cut or what I do. I'll just try to play well.”