Sharma completes fairytale week and meet the world’s best-dressed caddie
So What Happened?
Shubhankar Sharma put the finishing touches to his incredible week as he took victory in the weather-delayed Joburg Open by three shots from South African Erik Van Rooyen.
The Indian resumed with a four-shot lead and promptly birdied the 9th and then parred in. He ended the week with just three bogeys which all came on the first day.
Sharma had played mainly on the Asian Tour, he was sixth on their Order of Merit this year, and he has five victories on his home tour in India and he now has a European Tour success to his name. He was 10th in Hong Kong two weeks ago.
Van Rooyen resumed with a tap-in birdie at the 9th to cut the lead to three but he could only add more as he closed with a 66. Shaun Norris tied for third with Tapio Pulkkanen with England’s Marcus Armitage, who recently missed out at Q School, in fifth.
Talking Points
A nice early Christmas present for Sharma, Van Rooven and Norris was a place in next year’s Open at Carnoustie. There were three spots up for grabs and only Dylan Frittelli was exempt in the 240-man field.
Norris pipped Pulkkanen thanks to picking up four birdies in the last seven holes which included 17 and 18. The Finn birdied 14, 15 and 16 but needed one more which he couldn’t find.
Norris got the nod courtesy of his higher world ranking.
Louis Oosthuizen added his name to the list of odd golfing injuries when he jammed the fingers of his left hand between two airport luggage trolleys. The South African, who had been coming back into some nice form, is hopeful that the injury won’t be too damaging but it was bad enough to make him withdraw.
“I tried to grip a golf club but there’s no way I can go to my grip position. It’s a bit of an unfortunate one, but I don’t want to tee off Thursday and play one hole or a few shots and then withdraw after taking someone’s spot. I just can’t do that.”
Best Shots
Inches. ? pic.twitter.com/seG8ZBJcyv
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 11, 2017
In the rough, faced with a tricky, downhill chip.
Not a problem for @marcusarmitage1 ? pic.twitter.com/aOs983BSzx
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 9, 2017
Up-and-down, from the cart path?!#JoburgOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/XqWuDf3Syi
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 8, 2017
603 yards into the wind ?
Or just a drive and an iron for Tapio Pulkkanen ? pic.twitter.com/NWGaJKRKj4
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 8, 2017
Best Dressed
The 2017 Challenge Tour money list winner Pulkkanen has a nice line in Trilby hats and they were on show in South Africa. The Finn, who opened with rounds of 65-64, is supposedly one to watch in 2018 and he is already off to a flyer thanks to his tie for third here.
As for why he hasn’t been a sheep and donned the cap he said: “There was a captain at my old club who always used to wear one and I liked it a lot, so I thought I’d adopt the look too.”
Then again this guy might be the Best Dressed person to ever appear on a golf course..
Bow tie number 3 for @JeffWinther's caddie this week.. #JoburgOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/zt6GWpX42w
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 9, 2017
The man is unstoppable..
Bringing some colour to the first round ?@JeffWinther's caddie is dressed to impress. pic.twitter.com/kBxpYb84uO
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 7, 2017
Worst Dressed
This is a cultural thing. This might well be the in look in Seoul but there are just too many bad stripes on show for me, even the belt buckle has got in on the action.
Best Tweets
Played with him in HK last month! What a great guy @shubhankargolf is! Proper gent! #goodluck
— Chris Hanson (@Hansonprogolf) December 8, 2017
The 18th Green ?#JoburgOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/qag9xyw2xy
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) December 10, 2017
Best Stats
Players to shoot 10 under par or lower this year:
61 -11 R. Fisher (ADLC)
61 -10 Sharma (Joburg Open) ⬅️
61 -10 Hoey (Sicily)
61 -10 Soderberg (Sicily)
62 -10 Noren (BMW PGA)
63 -10 Wallace (Open de Portugal) pic.twitter.com/9pwUpDTZFl— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 8, 2017
Players to reach 20 under par after 3 rounds in 2017:
Just this guy ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lCPXmVDZ5x
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 9, 2017
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Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
