India's first professional golfer S K Jamshed Ali died at a private hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday after fighting a long, grinding battle against oral cancer. He was 53.

The Arjuna awardee leaves behind his wife, a son and five daughters, family members said.

Jamshed, the country's first caddie-turned-professional golfer to make it big in the game, succumbed to the disease at the Thakurpukur Cancer Hospital around noon.

The golfer had been discharged from hospital after a dose of chemotherapy three weeks ago, but was readmitted three days back after his condition deteriorated.

Jamshed, who won the coveted Arjuna in 1978, made a name for himself in the 1970s and early 1980s by performing superbly in all-India tournaments.

At a time when the game had limited scope in the country, he put up decent performances on the fairways of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka [Images], besides winning the Dunlop Open twice in Chennai, and emerging champion in tourneys in Delhi and Mumbai.