Shubhankar Sharma rewarded with the European Tour’s rookie

By Anand Datia

Shubhankar Sharma broke new ground for Indian golf when he won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award on the European Tour. Golf continues to scale heights with the emergence of fresh talent and Sharma’s success could be the fuel that launches the sport into orbit in India.
Over the past few years, Anirban Lahiri, SSP Chawrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar have all provided us plenty to cheer for with some glorious Sunday golf. Anirban is a steady presence on the PGA TOUR, while Chawrasia has a card to make a living in Europe. Bhullar has rediscovered form after a few years of living in the shadows, with multiple victories on the Asian Tour.

But it is Shubhankar who has forced his way to the top of Indian golf with a season that shall be celebrated for many years to come. In his sixth year as a professional, the 22-year-old from Chandigarh made it all seem easy, starting at the Joburg Open. A closing 62 in Malaysia just a few weeks later confirmed that the rousing victory in South Africa was no accident.

He kept fans awake in March as he started to harvest his new-found confidence. Shubhankar shot a brilliant 69 under pressure to enjoy a two-stroke lead at the EGC Mexico Championship, staying ahead of Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. He had to settle for T9 on Sunday but as the world of golf warmed to a new spring, Shubhankar had done enough to earn a special exemption into the Masters Tournament.

It is fitting that the young man has held on to be acknowledged rookie of the year, an honour never before won by an Indian. A journey that began with a two iron and a little prodding from Tushar Lahiri, Anirban’s father, promises to produce a career that could put India on the golf course.

An army man’s child, Shubhankar had access to the courses and parental support that allowed his talent to flourish. Colonel Mohan Sharma has mastered the fine art of balance, doing just enough to nudge his son toward excellence without ever being an overbearing presence.

Golf is gaining ground in India on the strength of a deep reservoir of dreams – most often those of men and women with limited means. More than half the golfers on the PGTI Tour, India’s thriving domestic circuit, have come up despite not having the means to do so – caddies, greenkeepers and other assorted professionals who learn the scent of well-manicured golf clubs from the dirt in their nails.

The growing love for the game was on display recently, when a crowd celebrated an intense battle between S Chikkarangappa and Karandeep Kochhar at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

So Sharma’s success and acknowledgement on the European Tour comes at an opportune time. While no Indian has ever scaled this peak, the fact that Sharma is the third Asian in four years to have won the rookie honour signifies the growing clout of Asian golf on the world stage. “It has been a great year for me. Very happy to have won the rookie of the year,” Shubhankar told the ET.

“I played all the majors this season and also most of the WGC events. Playing in America and here in Europe, could not really have asked for anything better.

“I am looking forward to do even better next season. It starts all over again next week and it is in Hong Kong, a course I love playing. The Asian Tour Order of Merit is on the line and I am looking forward to play well to try and win it too.”

The rewards have not come easy for Shubhankar. He has toiled tirelessly and Dubai was his eleventh week in a row as he sought to secure his status as the best rookie in Europe as well as the finest in Asia.

It is perhaps fitting that the 123rd ranked Indian will be in Hong Kong this week. It was where this new spring came for Shubhankar, with a T10 last year at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

With a growing number of Indian golfers seeking a ticket to glory in Europe and USA, Shubhankar’s success could pave the way for renewed aspiration and rigorous effort by the many young men and women dreaming of a career in golf.

There is no doubt that this latest recognition will serve to excite Indian golf. It is an accomplishment that will rank alongside the feats of stalwarts such as Gaurav Ghei, Jyoti Randhawa, Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal.