India, April 29 -- For the Nawab of Lucknow, the darbar (court) was held after he finished his round. It was either at the caddyshack, or the nearby chai tapri (tea stall). There was a good reason for that, one that defined Vijay Kumar as a person.

Vijay would be there, one of his legs tucked under another, a glass of piping hot tea in his hand, and lording over his audience with easy elegance. He would smile throughout, talk sparingly, and listen to everyone around.

The story goes: towards the middle of the 1990s, a popular golf club in the country "allowed" some of the top "caddy-turned-professional" players to enter the clubhouse. But there was a caveat. The club also posted the names of these "top caddie players" who were permitted....