The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is no doubt a major landmark in the career of young amateur golfers, but it is no different for their parents, too.

Nikhil Chopra, former India cricketer and a commentator on television would have been in Australia for the T20 World Cup, but he chose to skip a week of cricket duty to be his son Krishnav’s caddie this week at the amateur event here.

“This is a big moment for him. The AAC is easily the best-known amateur event in Asia with a massive incentive for those winning it. Imagine playing for a spot into the Augusta Masters and The Open,” said Chopra.

“So, when Krishnav got an invite for this tournament (based on his World Amateur Golf Ranking) I knew where I was going to be that week.”

Chopra, an off-break bowler during his playing days who played a Test and 39 ODIs for India, did commentary duty for a match in Australia before coming to Bangkok. He will return to Australia after his son’s event on Sunday.

Krishnav is one of the seven Indians in the field for the tournament that gives the winner a spot at the Augusta Masters and The Open. The other Indians are Rayhan Thomas, Aryan Roopa Anand, Milind Soni, Arjun Gupta, Shaurya Bhattacharya and Shat Mishra.

Krishnav admits his father is his idol. So, he is thrilled to have him as the caddie. “He’s here with me right now. He’s going to be caddying for me the rest of the week.”

The father-son duo love playing and hanging around a golf course. “I mean, it’s a two-way thing. He’s going to be carrying the bag and just keep the normal banter we always have,” Krishnav said.

Krishnav, who is now playing college golf at Long Beach State University, says he is learning a lot from his dad. “Whatever he’s gone through at an early stage, whatever mistakes he’s made, he’s always looked out for that so that I don’t make those mistakes.