Hats off to Sharma for keeping his poise

What an exciting day’s golf it was at the Hero Indian Open. Of course, personally, there was disappointment as I missed the cut, but I am now enjoying the action.

It’s a bunched up leaderboard and anything can happen. That’s what the spectators want.

Only 18 players are in red numbers and eight players are within three shots of the lead.

From the home crowd’s point of view, Shubhankar Sharma is right up there in shared lead.

So, he has at least a part of the lead for the second week running in two different parts of the world. After being in sole lead at WGC-Mexico last week, he is Tied-first with Matt Wallace here.

As for the runaway leader on the first two days, Emiliano Grillo must have realised how difficult it is to keep the lead going. It was always going to be a difficult day and he did give away a lot of shots, with his 6-over 78. Yet he is only two behind the leaders.

In between them is Stephen Gallacher, a pedigreed player, whose successes include two great wins in the Dubai Desert Classic in 2013 and 2014. Gallacher had a five-under 67, the best card of the day.

Hats off to Shubhankar for keeping his poise and not allowing pressure to get to him.

There were times he seemed to be up against clutch putts and he handled them well. It does mark him out as the player to beat.