Sharma posts second win in four starts, goes top on Race to Dubai

What happened at the Maybank Championship?

A bogey-free final round was enough to seal Shubhankar Sharma’s second career victory following his maiden win at the Joburg Open last December.

The Indian began the day four shots back of Jorge Campillo and Dylan Frittelli but, by the time he reached the 10th tee, it was down to just one. A phenomenal run from the 4th hole saw Sharma notch four birdies in a row to keep pace with the leaders at the top.

Another birdie at the 11th, which made it six in eight holes, was followed by one more at the par-5 13th which finally saw the 21-year-old top the leaderboard for the first time.

The best of Sharma's winning round in 90 seconds.#MaybankChampionship pic.twitter.com/u81jDovhp0

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2018

As Campillo faltered fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal applied the pressure but Sharma holed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 17th to stretch his lead to three and then got up and down at the last to card another birdie which added up to a phenomenal 62.

Campillo was left needing to hole his approach shot at 18 but it wasn’t to be as Sharma recorded a two-shot victory and his second in just 13 career starts.

Talking point

Before Sharma won the Joburg Open he was 462^nd in the world and he had just missed out at the European Tour’s Q School a few weeks earlier.

Now he is edging closer to the top 70 in the world which gives him a great chance of playing in his first major at Augusta in a couple of months.

In Joburg he had a 61 on day two and ended the week with just three bogeys for a three-shot win.

This time he finished with a 62 when the next best effort was a 66. Again he only had three bogeys.

Previously Sharma had played mainly on the Asian Tour, he was sixth on their Order of Merit in 2017, and he has five victories on his home tour in India.

Now he is on top of the Race to Dubai and he’s still only 21.

Moments of the week

Hit the pin.
Sink the birdie putt.
Lead by two.

Some effort from @shubhankargolf. ? pic.twitter.com/mNhpmFrErQ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2018

Thursday: 72
Friday: 62

Golf, right, @WestwoodLee? ?‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ELSK9LaSIW

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 2, 2018

Best stats

With this 2nd win, @shubhankargolf will jump somewhere close to #70 in the world rankings! (waiting on final #WMPO results).

One thing is clear though, at 21 y.o. Sharma will become the highest ranked Indian golfer in #OWGR, overtaking @anirbangolf! #MaybankChampionship

— Nosferatu (@VC606) February 4, 2018

The putt that confirmed @ChrisPaisley86 's 11th straight sub-70 round. ? pic.twitter.com/rJcIGI70hn

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 2, 2018

Best tweets

Pádraig. 129mph ?

(…with an assist!)

? via @ggswingtipsgolf pic.twitter.com/GhP5N4Udbi

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 2, 2018

Big shout out to the caddies this week…. it’s a tough walk for us in this heat, but try carrying round an extra 20kg on your back + these hills and then dealing with us miserable golfers! #noteasy #heat

— Chris Hanson (@Hansonprogolf) February 2, 2018

Dear @galvingreen, unfortunately Gavin Green signed for Adidas at some point. But please, don’t miss the opportunity to sign the Malaysian Amateur Galven Green when he turns pro. Give him what he needs.

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) February 2, 2018

Shot 66 and made the cut. Donated the clubs and my bag to the @maybankchampio1 charity on the Sunday after the event last year. Gr8 cause and helped someone out.

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) February 1, 2018