Liverpool, England, 20-07-2023
Shubhankar Sharma off to brilliant start at The Open with a 68, lies tied seventh, two off the lead
India's Shubhankar Sharma, making his third appearance at The Open, got his campaign off to a brilliant start with a solid three-under 68 in the opening round at the par-71 Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Sharma, who turns 27 on Friday, 21st July, was thus placed an impressive tied seventh just two strokes behind the joint leaders Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, Tommy Fleetwood of England and South African amateur Christo Lamprecht.
Shubhankar picked up early birdies on the fourth and fifth holes where he made a 16 feet conversion and had a two-on two-putt respectively. The two-time winner on the DP World Tour then dropped a bogey with a three-putt on the seventh.
Sharma, who earned his berth at this year's Open Championship, also his sixth Major, as a result of finishing inside the top 30 of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings, went on to add two more birdies on the 12th and 15th holes.
Shubhankar managed to get himself out of trouble on multiple occasions as he found the rough on the fourth, 12th and 15th and walked away with birdies on all three occasions.
Sharma landed his approach from the rough within four feet of the flag on the 12th and similarly chipped from the rough to within six feet of the pin on the 15th.
The Chandigarh-based professional had finished tied 51st in both his previous outings at The Open in 2018 and 2019.
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Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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