March 4 came close to being a red letter day in Indian golf history. Twenty-one-year-old golf sensation Shubhankar Sharma caught the eye of the entire golfing world as he led field up to 54 holes before finishing 9th in his debut at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship on that day. The Gurugram boy, who is the youngest competitor in the field, signed off with a 3-over 74, finishing six shots behind winner Phil Mickelson, who triumphed over reigning FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas in a playoff.
Sharma’s solid showing in Mexico saw him jump from 75th to 66th position in the official World Golf Rankings. He was ranked 521st just last November. His rise will enhance his chances of qualifying for the next World Golf Championships event later this month, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, which is exclusive to the top-64 golfers if he has a top 7 position in the Hero Indian Open later this week at his home club, the DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurugram.
Needless to say, Sharma was disappointed at the end of the final round. Speaking to Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the golf sensation said, “A little bit disappointed, I was leading and I think I couldn't finish it off. But that's what the game is about. And what I learned, especially playing with Phil, I'll cherish it forever.”
Mickelson, who made headlines after mistaking Sharma for a journalist from India at the practice putting green, won the WGC. Sharma and the five-time Major champion Mickelson played together in the final round. Coincidentally, this was the oldest and the youngest player pairing in the tournament. The golfing legend stated that Sharma was a great in the making.
“I saw how well he struck the golf ball,” Mickelson said. “He hit a beautiful tee shot on 1, you can tell he can really play. I saw some of the putts, some of the highlights with the putter. I know he's a very talented player and I believe he's leading the Order of Merit on the European Tour, so I know what a great player Mr Sharma is. I probably shouldn't say that, he's 26 years younger than me!”
As for Sharma, who already has two European Tour wins under his belt in four months, playing alongside Mickelson is an unforgettable experience. “If you would have asked me four months ago that I would be playing with Phil at a WGC on the last day, I would have just laughed,” said Sharma. “Just playing with him has been fantastic. He's obviously a great man, showed me a few great shots. He's not afraid to go out there and get it out there and hit it at the pin, and he took some crazy clubs off the tee but that's what Phil is all about. I'll never forget it. Especially on 16 where he made birdie, it was the loudest roar I ever heard in life. It was fantastic,” said Sharma.
Sharma is expected to return home on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he is set to play the Pro Am event of the Hero Indian Open which begins March 8. “I'm looking forward to it. I'm playing well. It's a very long flight back home to India, but I should be fine by then.”
What he is probably not aware of is the reception and excitement that awaits him at home. Come Thursday, all eyes will be on Shubhankar Sharma as he tees of at his home Open.