Shubhankar Sharma produced golf of the highest quality in most testing conditions for the only bogey free round of the final day of the 151st Open. The card of 1-under 70 for a total of 5-under 279 meant an early call to the 2024 Open, the finish of which will be on his 28th birthday, July 21, 2024. He shot 68-71-70-70 and tied eighth place.
Calling it his best golf, Sharma displayed amazing maturity and grit, just as he had all week and produced the golf of his life on a day, when the rain gods just did not let up. American Brian Harman (70), who confessed 'butchering' and hunting as his hobbies sliced through the field for a massive six-shot win over a foursome comprising youth and experience in the form of Tom Kim, Sepp Straka, Jason Day and Jon Rahm. Harman's previous best at a Major was T-2 at the US Open, where he was 12-under and a 54-hole leader by one after 54 holes as Brooks Koepka went on to win the title on Sunday. Sharma's Top-10 finish earns him a berth into next year's Open at Royal Troon from July 18-21, 2024. It will also boost his Race to Dubai rankings from where the top-10 not otherwise exempt will gain a passage in to the PGA Tour.
"Right now I am just thrilled with the week's result. It is something I have always believed in. The last few weeks I played good golf, but things did not come together and this week, right from the start I had a good feeling," said Sharma, who was swamped by his father, Col ML Sharma, mother Neena, sister Vandini and coach Jesse Grewal, as he came off the 18th green. They were all soaked to the skin but nothing could take away the joy of a week that saw him turn 27 and produce the best result of his career. "Without doubt it was the best I have played and in such conditions and on a course so challenging," said Sharma's whose Tied-eighth is the best result by an Indian at any Open. It is also the second best ever by an Indian at any Major after the T-5 by Anirban Lahiri at the 2015 PGA Championships. The previous best by an Indian at an Open was T-27 by Jyoti Randhawa in 2004 at Royal Troon, where the Open returns next year. Jeev Milkha Singh was also T-9 at the 2008 PGA Championships.
Sharma's display was world-class on a stage, which is more international than any other tournament in the world. He had just one bogey on each of the first three days, besides an additional double bogey on the second and he was bogey-free on the final day. "That was very satisfying," said Sharma. Stringing together 13 pars, some when he missed a birdie by a whisker and other after saving some great pars. Then came a birdie from just inside 15 feet on the 14th and then on both 17th and 18th, he hit great putts only to see them slide past agonisingly.
Shubhankar Sharma finishes tied-8th, best ever by an Indian; also earns 2024 berth.
Sharma's display was world-class on a stage, which is more international than any other tournament in the world.
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