Shubhankar to team up with Anirban
NEW DELHI: Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri will represent India at the World Cup of Golf, scheduled to be held at The Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne from November 21-25.
The event will feature twoman teams from the top 28 nations based on the Official World Golf Rankings.
The 59th edition will see a 56-player field vie for the $7 million prize money on offer. India qualified on the basis of world rankings on September 4.
The 22-year-old Shubhankar, India’s highest-ranked golfer at 107, committed for the event and became one of the first 28 players to be named by tournament officials on September 14.
Shubhankar, who has enjoyed success on the European Tour this season courtesy his wins at the Joburg Open and Maybank Championship, will be making his debut in the prestigious event.
Shubhankar, also the Asian Tour’s order of merit leader, has picked 31-year-old PGA Tour regular Anirban Lahiri as his partner for the World Cup.
Anirban, currently the second-highest ranked Indian in the world at 110, will be making his second appearance at the event.
A two-time European Tour winner and a former Asia No 1, Anirban last played the World Cup in 2013 when he partnered Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Anirban enjoyed a decent season on the PGA Tour thanks to four top-10 finishes.
Shubhankar said, “It’s my privilege to represent my country in the World Cup of Golf. In Anirban, I will have a great partner and senior to guide us through the grind of the event and hopefully win it for us.”
Anirban, who has also taken part in prestigious team events like the Presidents Cup, Olympics and Eurasia Cup, said, “I’m excited to pair up with Shubhankar. He’s a special talent and a friend so obviously it’s going to be a lot of fun. We both have the capability to bring back the trophy if we can play to our abilities.
“Representing the country is special and a great honour. It’s the first time for me playing the World Cup as a team event so I’m looking forward to the team competition.” SAITAMA(JAPAN): Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has been on a fine run this season, continued his excellent form as he opened the Asia-pacific Diamond Cup on Thursday with a solid four-under 67 to be placed tied sixth after the first day.
Bhullar, who has had eight top 10s this year, including a superb win in the Fiji International, is four shots behind the leader Daijiro Izumida (63) and Thai Danthai Boonma, both of whom fired an identical six-under-par 65 at the Musashi Country Club.
While Bhullar stayed hot, other Indians had a mixed day. Rahil Gangjee shot three-under 68 to be tied 15th, while Ajeetesh Sandhucarded two-under 69 and was tied 22nd. Shiv Kapur, Viraj Madappa and Arjun Atwal carded oneover 72 each to be tied 69th, while Chiragh Kumar shot 73 to be tied 82nd.