From Atwal to Shubhankar, India’s Mickelson connect

PHIL CONNECT

Phil Mickelson dismissed Shubhankar Sharma mistaking the Indian as a member of the media on Saturday as the 21-year-old Mexico WGC leader and his pro-golfer caddie Gurbaaz Mann walked up to have a chat with ‘Lefty’. Mickelson of course realised his mistake and the two had a chat later.

But unknown to many, and probably to Phil Mickelson, too, is the connection to Indian golf the 47-year-old Hall of Famer has.

In 2005, when Arjun Atwal was finding his feet on the PGA Tour, the Indian ace shot 64 in the final round of the BellSouth Classic at TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia. That put him in a five-man play-off which included the then reigning Masters champion, Mickelson, Rich Beem, the 2002 PGA Champion, two-time Masters winner, Jose Maria Olazabal and Brandt Jobe. Atwal exited in the first play-off hole, but Mickelson went on to win the title at the $ 5 million event.

Fast forward to 2008 and SingaSometime 2018: Shubhankar plays final round of WGC-Mexico with Mickelson

2009: Jeev shares Rd 1 lead with Mickelson at WGC at Doral, Mickelson wins tournament, Jeev is T-4th.

2008: 20-year-old rookie pro Anirban Lahiri gets last minute spot after being reserve at Singapore Open; plays first two rounds with Mickelson

2005: Atwal loses to Mickelson in 5-man play-off at BellSouth Classic on PGA Tour

pore. An Indian rookie pro was anxiously waiting as the first reserve for the region’s biggest event, the Singapore Open.

Sitting by the phone in his hotel room was a 20-year-old Anirban Lahiri, in his first year on the Asian Tour. Late in the evening news filtered in that Ian Poulter had pulled out and Lahiri was in. Guess, who he was going to play with? Right, Mickelson.

back, Lahiri recalled, “It was my first year on the Asian Tour and I had had a terrible season. I was first reserve on Monday and I got in on Wednesday evening. I was really thrilled to be playing in the tournament, then I was told that I was playing with Phil (Mickelson).

Onto 2009 and Doral. Jeev Milkha Singh coming off the best season of his career in 2008, was at the WGC, then called WGC-CA and it used to be held at Doral. Jeev was one of the four co-leader at the end of Day 1 alongside Retief Goosen, Prayad Marksaeng and one more player. Yes, it was Mickelson. On the second day Mickelson went into sole lead, while Jeev dropped to T-8th. Jeev climbed back to T-3rd, but four behind Mickelson, who shared the lead with Nick Watney. On the final day, Mickelson held off Watney by one shot, as Jeev finished fourth.

So, three of India’s finest players ever – Atwal, Jeev and Anirban have a ‘Mickelson connection’ and now it is Shubhankar Sharma’s turn.

NEW DELHI: