Shubhankar Sharma’s recent form has won the notice of greats of the game, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els among them.
And for good reason: the 21-year-old is one of just four players over the last two decades to win twice on the European Tour in his first 20 starts — Luke Donald, Jeunghun Wang and Jon Rahm, the others.
His game-breaking rounds of 61 at the Joburg Open and 62 at the Maybank Championship, in particular, caused quite a stir. The Hindu caught up with Shubhankar to find out what life has been like. Excerpts:
You were in the top 600 last November, and now you are World No. 69. Does it feel like a blur?
It’s a big leap. Last year, I was on the Asian Tour, now I have a chance of playing on the PGA Tour. It just shows the kind of game golf is — it gives you possibilities. I am happy that I could capitalise on good form. Those two wins have been big. And playing at the World Championship in Mexico has been fantastic.
Take us through your triumphs at Joburg and Maybank.
Joburg was 1,600m above sea level. The ball travels at least 10% longer, which I had to adjust to. And there were 256 players. Normally you have 140 players; so, 100 more. I have never played in a tournament like that. Moreover, I was alone, which made it all the more difficult. I was the lone Indian. Dad was not there. I had to get a local caddie. The first day, I got a 3-under, the second day was when I thought I had a chance to win after a 10-under, and on the third, I had a 7-under. I pretty much cruised to victory. I did not make bogeys on the last four days.
Did the rain on the last day make things difficult?
You can’t do much when the weather is like that. It was raining heavily. We waited for four and a half hours. We came back on Monday. That was tough. Playing high-intensity golf for four days is tough enough. We came back on the fifth, and I made a birdie and the rest were all pars. That was all I needed.
And Maybank…
Maybank was different. I was not playing to potential, at least on the first two days. I kept pushing. I was not making enough putts. But I just believed in myself. On the third day, I shot a 6-under. On the last day, everything fell into place, and I shot a 10-under. When you shoot 10-under, you are always in contention.
Talking about finishes, you faltered at the WGC in Mexico and the Indian Open on the last day. How important are finishes for a young golfer?
Very important. You have to finish well to win tournaments. It gives you more confidence. You always draw from your past experiences. And I have been fortunate to win eight tournaments (six on the Professional Golf Tour of India and two on the European Tour). I know how to win. That’s a good thing. The Hero-Indian Open and the WGC, I was in contention. Obviously I couldn’t finish.
What did those experiences teach you?
In the Indian Open, I was tied for the lead, whereas in WGC, I was leading. On the last day, you have to have momentum on your side. In Mexico, I thought I played well but the putts didn’t go in. And in the Indian Open, I started really well but played a few bad swings, got unlucky in a few shots; little things that put one out of contention. You learn from your losses, and become a stronger and better player.
Has your Army background helped?
Dad, a [retired] Colonel, has been a great influence, travelling with me as long as I can remember. Army life taught me a lot of discipline. Athletes always have to strive for greatness, and I think my background has helped me there.
You always look cool and composed on the course. Does Army life give one nerves of steel?
Possibly. Being cool on the course I attribute to my mom. She has really been into meditation for many years. She has taught me to be calm on the course. Dad has been aggressive, has pushed me. Mom has been cool. I don’t really show my emotions.
What do you prioritise — the Asian, European or PGA Tours?
The PGA Tour. First of all, my first target is to play well in USA. I have full status on the Asian and the European Tours for the next three years. I don’t need to worry about that. My aim is to get to the PGA tournaments, the highest tour in the world. If I can make my card, that will be great. I would be happy to play there as much as possible.
What has playing with your idols — Phil Mickelson in Mexico, for instance — been like?
These guys have been my idols since I was a kid. It’s nice to be a part of the same group. In Mexico, I got to learn a lot.
What are your memories of the Augusta Masters, which you’ve been invited to play next month?
Watching videos of Tiger [Woods] winning the 1997 event. I was too young back then, but he won again in 2005, defeating [Chris] DiMarco in the playoff, where he made that chip on the 16th hole, one of the most famous shots in golf. I have been watching Augusta for 10 years. It has that history to it. It is what Wimbledon is to tennis. It’s that big. It has a different aura about it. Sergio [Garcia] won it last year. I saw Mickelson winning it in 2010.
What must an Indian do to win a Major?
Winning a golf tournament is never easy. First, we should have more Indians playing [in Majors]. Americans have been playing for a long time. We need more Indians on the PGA Tour to inspire the youngsters. We have Anirban [Lahiri], who has followed in the footsteps of Arjun [Atwal]. Majors are very different, tough conditions, big crowds, pressure. In some ways, we need do look at it like any other tournament. Indians are good enough. In a few years, you will see Indians winning a Major.
Who has been your inspiration?
Of course, Tiger has been good inspiration for kids my age. He is one of the biggest names in golf. His mental strength is amazing. Watching guys like Jeev [Milkha Singh] practise has been a great learning experience. Anirban is a family friend, he too has helped me a lot. Atwal is more than happy to answer my doubts.
What are the biggest strengths in your game?
My iron play. I have the most number of birdies this year. To make birdies you have to hit the ball close to the pin. Whenever I am 150-160 yards, I have hit it pretty close.
How do you look at your journey so far?
I’ve had my share of ups and downs. It is all part of the game. It is never smooth sailing. You always doubt yourself. You have to persevere. Fortunately, I didn’t have a long [struggling] phase. It wasn’t easy in the beginning. One has to be mentally strong. This year, I missed two cuts. Both by one shot. The good thing is that I had extra days to practise.
You are from Chandigarh, one of the better centres for golf. How important are smaller centres for the game to spread?
Very important. You need kids playing in small cities. We need more awareness. The Indian Golf Union (IGU) is doing good work, providing facilities. Just getting more kids to the sport is important. We need to have the same set-up we have in Chandigarh. The Government is not doing much. We need more public ranges. It is an expensive game. We need to make it more accessible.
To what extent does corporate support help?
Corporate support doesn’t trickle down in any way. Hero does a great job, the sponsors are doing their bit. The most important thing can be done by IGU, which controls amateur and junior golf. They need to put in more funding. And have more coaches, send Indian teams for more international tournaments. That’s the trickle-down effect we need to produce good golfers.
