Sharma holds on to lead in Mexico
Shubhankar Sharma stayed up in the middle of the night in India to watch golf at the highest level, usually the majors, and the best players became legends to him.
From the time he arrived in Mexico for his first World Golf Championship, he has been hitting balls on the range next to Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, and yesterday he worked up the courage to introduce himself to Phil Mickelson on the putting green.
“It just feels like there’s a TV in front of me, and I’m actually watching it through a TV,” Sharma said.
Even more surreal? He’s beating them.
The 21-year-old from India held his nerve to the end and holed a 15foot par putt on the 18th hole yesterday for a 2-under-par 69, giving him a 2-shot lead going into the final round of the Mexico Championship in Mexico City.
Sharma has one round left to hold off a few of golf’s biggest names — starting with Mickelson.
Mickelson played bogey-free for a 65 and will be in the final group for the first time since the British Open two years ago. Joining them will be Tyrrell Hatton of England, who went out in 30 and finished off a 64.
“It’s been a long time since my game’s been back to this point,” Mickelson said. “I’m back playing some of my best golf again. It will start to click and get better and better as the year goes on.”
As for winning for the first time since the 2013 British Open?
“I think whether it happens tomorrow or not — very good chance it will — but if it doesn’t, it’s going to happen soon because I’m playing too well for it not to.”
At least there won’t be any need for an introduction. Sharma took care of that yesterday when he saw Mickelson on the putting green as he was about to tee off. His caddie, Gurbaaz Mann, played at Arizona State and walked over with him to meet Mickelson.
Mickelson might have heard about Sharma, the only two-time winner on the European Tour this season and the Race to Dubai leader.
He just didn’t recognize him.
“He thought we were media and he said, ‘Not right now. After the round,’” Sharma said with a smile. “Then he just realized it and said, ‘So sorry, I thought you were media.’ He said ‘Hi,’ I said, ‘Hi.’ Then he made a few putts and he came back to me and said, ‘Have a good day.’ It was nice.”
Sharma was at 13-under and one round away from capping an amazing rise.
Korda shoots 65
Florida teenager Nelly Korda shot a third-round 7-under 65 to take a 1-stroke lead at the LPGA Tour’s Women’s World Championship after Danielle Kang made her first bogeys of the tournament to slip back into second place in Singapore . . . .
George Coetzee opened a 2-shot lead heading into the final round of the European PGA’s Tshwane Open after a 3-under 68 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Stricker slips
Steve Stricker lost the Cologuard Classic lead when he drove into the water on the par-5 18th in a closing double bogey in Tucson, Ariz.
A year after losing a chance to win the event in his PGA Tour Champions debut when his 3-wood went left into the water on the final hole, Stricker did it again. He ended up with a 3-under 70, leaving him a stroke behind Tommy Tolles with a round to play. Tolles saved par on 18 for a 70 after following Stricker into the water.