India’s Shubhankar Sharma surprised a few people, but not himself, as he upstaged the biggest names in golf for a two-shot halfway lead at the WGC-Mexico Championship on Friday.
In his first appearance in a World Golf Championships event, Shubhankar added a five-under-par 66 to his opening round 65 to set the pace at 11-under 131 at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
“I’m really happy ,” said Shubhankar.
Several of those big boys were lurking close, with Spanish duo of Sergio Garcia (65) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (67) in a share of second with American Xander Schauffele (68) on nine-under. Shubhankar was not a name on everyone’s lips before the tournament.
An eagle on Friday at the short par-four first hole, where he drove the ball to inside two feet for a tap-in, changed that and bogeys at the next two holes proved minor setbacks.
The five birdies he picked up on the back nine, including at the final three holes, helped him stamp his authority on the event.
