NEW DELHI: 22-year-old Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma has captured the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings title (Asian Tour Order of Merit) after a ground-breaking year of achievements.
After making a career breakthrough at the 2017 Johannesburg Open in South Africa, the 22-year-old Sharma carried his winning momentum over to the new season and clinched his second Asian Tour title at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. There, Sharma overcame a four-shot deficit by shooting a final round 10-under-par 62 to claim a stunning two-shot victory at the US$3 million event. He earned a winner’s cheque of US$500,000, which gave him a significant head-start in the merit race.
A month later in March, he set a new course record at the DLF Golf and Country Club en route to a tied-seventh finish at the Hero Indian Open. Sharma carded a sizzling 64 in the second round, beating the mark set by 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Gavin Green by one shot.
Sharma’s commendable finish in India extended his advantage on the Habitat for Humanity Standings. He is the fifth Indian to earn the distinction after Jyoti Randhawa (2002), Arjun Atwal (2003), Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 and 2008) and Anirban Lahiri (2015). Sharma is also the youngest Indian to win this honour at the age of 22. None of his predecessors were under the age of 30.
Outside the Tour, Sharma has a top-10 at the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship to his name, played all four Major tournaments this year and was awarded the European Tour Rookie of the Year.
Sharma commented on his win: “I’m really happy with what has happened to me. Obviously, the Asian Tour played a big role, as the Tour has given me the chance to compete and helped me develop my game to my current level.
“This year has been a huge learning curve for me. I’ve played in some of the biggest events I could ever imagine and learned a lot. I know I have the game to be among the best in the world and I just want to keep playing well and give my best shot.”
