Shubhankar Sharma wins title, place in The Open

New Delhi: Shubhankar Sharma was all of 11, with stars in his eyes when he turned up for an Ernie Els clinic at the Delhi Golf Club in 2008 as the club hosted the Emaar-MGF Masters, the first-ever European Tour event in India.

Nine years later, Sharma became the first Indian to win in South Africa at the Joburg Open. He won by three shots to secure his maiden international win as a pro. It also earned him a spot for the 2018 British Open, which will be his first major.

At the clinic in 2008, when Els asked if anyone wanted to hit a shot or two, Sharma volunteered. Clad in casuals, Sharma whacked the ball hard and long on the range, where a bucket was placed as a target of sorts. “Twice, he (Shubhankar) hit past that target,” recalled Col. M.L. Sharma, who encouraged his son to turn professional even before he had turned 16.

At the end of the session, Els gave the young Sharma his visiting card, and said something like, “When you become a big pro and want anything, call me.” Sharma never forgot that and kept the card. In fact, he framed it.

Interestingly, at that event S.S.P. Chawrasia beat a star-studded field for his big breakthrough. “What happened in 2008 obviously changed everything for me. I was so happy and I framed the card. It just shows that small things from great players like him go a long way. I was only an 11-year-old boy back then,” recalled Sharma after his win in Joburg. Sharma met Els again in Macao two years ago.

Sharma is the youngest Indian to win on European Tour, and the second youngest Indian to win on Asian Tour — that being Gaganjeet Bhullar, who was 21 years and three months, when he won the Indonesia President Invitational in 2009. Sharma is currently 21 years, four months and 21 days.