Shubhankar Sharma learns a valuable lesson at CIMB Classic

15 October 2018: At 22, Shubhankar Sharma is a young man on a mission. He wants to distinguish himself on the highest stages of golf. In only 12 starts on the PGA TOUR, Sharma has already scented victory, falling just short on Sunday. The young man is inching ever closer to being the just the second Indian to win on the PGA TOUR and going by his run at the CIMB Classic, that day might not be too far away.

In this conversation with the PGA TOUR on Sunday, Shubhankar speaks about his Presidents Cup aspirations and the week in Malaysia.

Q. Can you reflect on the day?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  Disappointing, not really happy with the way I finished.  But again, as always, a great experience for me going forward and I think my game is in a good state for the next two weeks.  I have two more PGA TOUR tournaments, so I’m pretty happy with how it ended up.

Q. What held you back today?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  My start was not as good, but I came back really strong.  I made four birdies in a row and I was really happy with the way I was playing and I knew I had a chance.  We had to wait, there was some wait on the 11th hole and I was in between clubs so I was trying to hit a soft rescue and that was probably one of the worst swings of the day and that ended up in the water.  After that it was just a trend of hitting bad shots.  Even the next hole after that I hit it in the bunker, I had a relatively easy shot and I duffed it and couldn’t make up and down.  Even on the next hole I was in the fairway, hit a good second shot to the left.

So that 11th hole I think killed the momentum for me.  A par there would have gone a long way and I probably could have made more birdies after that.

Q. Also, coming in you gave yourself several birdie chances still and the putts also looked really good, but just slipped past.

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  The worst putt of the day was the 16th, that didn’t deserve to go in, that was a bad putt.  But other than that, all were good putts till the end.  14th I had about six feet, I hit a great putt, just broke the wrong way.  Even the next hole I thought the ball was going in the hole, just gets to the hole and stayed.

Q. Two lip?outs as well?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  16 was a bad stroke.  Like I said, I should have made that.  That was only four feet, but I should have made that.  17 again was a great putt and 18 hit a decent chip that probably could have gone in, just ended up in the wrong place on the second shot.  But again, it’s all right.  19 under is not a bad week.

Q. Still a great experience to be able to play at this level with this kind of a field.  I mean, to play and still finish in the top?10?  

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  Great experience.  Very, very good to have two top?10s on the PGA TOUR, so that’s a good way of looking at it.  Also, it pushes me to keep playing well.  I feel like I have it in me to win out there on the PGA TOUR and I’ve given myself two opportunities.  Game is in a decent place now.  The next two weeks are also big events, so anything is possible in this game.  So I’ll just try and keep at it and let’s see what the next two weeks brings.

Q. Disappointing because everybody that was (inaudible) you were in the shared lead?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  I would have taken it, yeah, definitely, because the way I was playing before this wasn’t very impressive.  Tied for 10th is not bad.

Q. Any pressure being there at the top?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  I was fine, there was no pressure.  I was really calm and relaxed on the course.  Just that 11th hole, I just kept making bad swings after that.  There was no pressure, just those bad swings killed me and those three bogeys shouldn’t have come at that time.

Q. Can I just get your thoughts on the Order of Merit results?  This gets you a lot of money on the Order of Merit.

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  I have no idea how much will be ?? I know 50 percent will be counted, I think, but I don’t know how much I made.  That probably will extend ?? was I the best station this week?

So probably it will extend my lead so I’m happy about that.  But again, probably a top?5 or a top 3 would have given me a huge lead.  It will be a decent lead, but I’m pretty happy, not really going to think about that, let’s see what happens in the end.

Q. And this top?10 gives you some rankings on the Presidents Cup.  Have you thought about that?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  Yes, I haven’t really thought about it until you told me right now, but I really want to make it to that team.  This position will help me in that and the next two weeks are also big, so I’ll try and play well the next two weeks as well and see what happens.

I met him (Ernie Els) this week as well.  He told me that we would probably grab nine holes in Korea, so very looking forward to that.  We’ll probably play a practice round.  I really like him, he’s one of my favorite players.  He’s very relaxed, you look at him, he’s looks like ?? he’s just done what he had to do and he’s happy playing and he’s just enjoying himself.  I always enjoy talking to him.  I met him this week and he’s playing next week as well, so it will be nice.

Q. Did he say anything like I would love you to be there on the Presidents Cup team?

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA:  He’s told me it would be great if you can make it.  That’s always enticing for a kid my age.  I’m really happy.  Let’s see, I’ve got off to a decent start and just need to keep playing this way to make the Presidents Cup team.