Inspired Sharma ready for another good run at CJ Cup
JEJU ISLAND: India’s rising star Shubhankar Sharma is keen to maintain his push for a PGA Tour card and a spot in the International team for the Presidents Cup when he tees up at the CJ Cup which starts today.
The young Indian finished tied for 10th at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Sunday after entering the final round as the joint third-round leader but the disappointment was quickly forgotten when South African legend Ernie Els, who is captain of the International team for the Presidents Cup, invited him for a nine-hole practice round here on Tuesday.
It brought back great memories for Sharma who was hand-picked by Els to hit shots during a golf clinic in New Delhi in 2008.
He is now fired up to launch another strong run in this week’s US$9.5 million PGA Tour event.
“We were just chatting a lot about his life on tour,” said Sharma of his day with Els.
“He said he’s so happy that kids like me are coming up now and that the International team is actually looking really strong. I think he’s a great captain and definitely we’ll have a great team together.”
Sharma contended in Malaysia last weekend before slipping back with a closing 72.
As he is in the field at the CJ Cup and also in next week’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, both with no halfway cuts, he is hoping to take a big step towards earning his PGA Tour card via non-member category.
“Only good things, positives to take away from last week,” said Sharma, who got into this week’s field as the highest-ranked player from the Asian Tour.
“It’s always good when you’re in contention at a PGA Tour event and I’ve been lucky enough to be in contention twice this year, leading off the three days in both the tournaments. So I just want to take positives.
“A top-10 finish is never bad on the PGA Tour even though I would have liked to be slightly higher than that, but I just want to take positives out of last week. I feel like my game’s in a good spot and I have two more weeks, this week and next week as well, so try and do my best and we’ll see how it goes,” said Sharma.
Other players in the field this week include holder Justin Thomas, CIMB Classic winner Marc Leishman, Brooks Koepka who won two major championships this year, Jason Day, Billy Horschel, Brandt Snedeker, Xander Schauffele and Adam Scott.