Shubhankar Sharma looks to turn the tide in Andalucia Masters

A year can be significantly longer when the joyous waves of success aren’t washing your feet. Since his top ten finish in the Turkish Airlines Open in 2019, Shubhankar Sharma has been enduring a grim run. The Henry Cotton awardee in 2018 is in the throes of a dry run that is testing his character as much as his game.

But as we witnessed in his recent return in the UK swing of the European Tour, Shubhankar is a feisty fighter. In the Celtic Classic, one of just two events in which he has made the cut this season, the Indian showed remarkable resilience to stay even for the week. It took him 15 birdies that week to cover the cost of his misses, one of the features of his recent struggles. He has been mixing the bad with the good as he continues his relentless quest to rediscover his best.

And we know how good Shubhankar can be. In one of Indian golf’s most memorable stretches, not only did he win twice on the European Tour, he also held the 54-hole lead in the WGC Mexico Championship during a run that nearly catapulted him to the PGA TOUR.

“I had a couple of good practice rounds. Jeev (Milkha Singh) has won here and it has hosted the Ryder Cup too, a historic course,” said Shubhankar. “It is very similar to courses in Asia; tree lined, placing a premium on precision off the tee. It is important to be in the right place to get a good angle to the small greens. They are playing very hard and fast this week.”

“It is all about precision this week, playing very much like it did last year. The weather is in play too, as it is expected to be windy all week.

“It is a good test of golf, as Valderrama always is. I have to be at my best. I am hoping to do that and my game seems to be in good shape,” asserted a confident Shubhankar.

There is little doubt that Shubhankar can eventually find his rightful place among the elite of the game. The path to that destination though passes through the furnace of frustration.

He has an opportunity this week to turn the tide in his favour at a course on which he does not have too much exposure. Shubhankar has only played once at Valderrama. In the thick of his struggles last year, the 24 year old had a forgettable outing, but the experience will help provide some valuable notes for this week.

Martin Kaymer, the former world No.1, rates the Valderrama course very highly.

“Valderrama is probably one of my top three golf courses around the world,” said Kaymer. “If it wasn’t taking place at Valderrama this week I probably would not have come to Spain.

“For me it’s a very special place.

“I’ve always wanted to win here some day, and every time I have the opportunity to come here and play and compete, I take it.”

The event marks the first departure for the bubble outside the United Kingdom. It is the first of three events on continental Europe – one in Spain followed by back to back events in Portugal.