Shubhankar Sharma Aims to End India's Indian Open Drought

Shubhankar Sharma, the 27-year-old Indian golfer, is poised to make a strong run at the upcoming Indian Open, a tournament he considers the "fifth major." Sharma, who finished tied seventh in the 2018 edition, is hoping to end India's 15-year drought without a homegrown winner.

Sharma's confidence stems from his recent form, which includes a tied-second finish in Singapore. He believes the parallels between his current situation and his performance in 2018 provide him with a sense of hope and belief.

Over the past six years, Sharma has matured both as a golfer and as a person. His game has become more refined, his tee shots have become longer and sharper, and his training regimen has become more regimented. However, some things have remained constant, such as his love for the Gurugram course, which he considers his second home.

Sharma acknowledges that the Indian Open is a challenging course, with thick roughs and narrow fairways. He emphasizes the importance of hitting the fairway and executing precise approach shots. Despite the difficulty of the course, Sharma believes that local knowledge will give him an advantage.

The field for the Indian Open is strong, with the likes of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri also in contention. However, Sharma is confident that he can be one of the Indians to challenge for the title.

"It is one of the strongest Indian fields ever assembled at the Indian Open," Sharma said. "While we have not had an Indian winner for some time, I think this weekend, we will surely have a few in contention. I certainly want to be one of those."

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