Sharma sets new course record

Race to Dubai leader fires a 64 to put himself right into contention for title

India’s Shubhankar Sharma stormed into contention for a remarkable third win in nine events after firing a course record 64 in the second round of the Hero Indian Open.

Sharma currently tops the European Tour’s Race to Dubai after victories in the Joburg Open and Maybank Championship and finished ninth in the WGC-Mexico Championship on Sunday after leading by two shots heading into the final round.

That meant the 21-year-old only arrived in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon and he looked to be heading for an early exit after starting his first round from the 10th and covering the back nine in 41.

However, Sharma came home in 32 to finish one over par and carried on where he left off on Friday with nine birdies and a solitary bogey, including an 11-shot improvement on the back nine.

At seven under par Sharma trails Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo by four shots after he made the most of his sponsor’s invite to add a 68 to his opening 65 at DLF Golf and Country Club.

England’s Andrew Johnston and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal share third place on six under par, with Marc Warren top Scot on four under.

Meanwhile, European Tour players have been warned that recent reforms in Saudi Arabia are “largely a mirage”.

The Tour announced on Thursday that it will stage an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2019.

Last October it was announced that Saudi Arabia would allow women into sports stadiums from 2018 in the conservative kingdom’s latest step towards easing gender segregation rules.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK’s director, told Press Association Sport: “Players on the European Tour ought to be aware that Saudi Arabia’s much-hyped ‘reforms’ in Saudi Arabia are largely a mirage.

“We’re not saying that players on the European Tour should boycott Saudi Arabia – but they certainly go with their eyes wide open.”