Shubhankar Sharma to face Sergio Garcia in opening match of World Golf Championships
Indian golf star Shubhankar Sharma will start his World Golf Championships campaign against reigning Masters Tournament champion, Sergio Garcia. Ahead of the WGC, the 21-year-old Indian star, who finished ninth in Mexico, said that he needs to be at his best and make as many birdies as possible.
Shubhankar will start his World Golf Championships campaign with a mouth-watering opening match against reigning Masters Tournament champion, Sergio Garcia. Shubhankar was in exceptional form earlier this year when he finished tied ninth at the WGC Mexico Championship after leading on Day 2 and 3.
The 21-year old Indian star will also face American Xander Schauffele, the 2017 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, and South Africa's Dylan Frittelli, in Group 7 of the preliminary stage at Austin Country Club starting Wednesday. Shubhankar feels that it is a great group to be a part of and added that he had to be at his best to get results.
“I think it's a great group. I've played with Xander before and I know Dylan well. It will be a great group with Sergio there as well. I'll have to play my best and make as many birdies as possible,” Shubhankar Sharma was quoted by the Zee News.
Shubhankar will be making his debut at the WGC Match Play, which is exclusive to the leading 64 players in the world. The 21-year-old will be able to lean on some match play experience following his triumph at the All Indian Amateur in 2013. Shubhankar also revealed that he likes match play since players need to be more aggressive than normal in the matches.
“I love match play. The last time I played (that format) was 2013 when I played my last event as an amateur, and I ended winning the event. So I absolutely love match play as it's a lot of fun and you go for a few shots which you don't normally do in stroke play events. You just have to be as aggressive as possible which is the best part about match play,” he added.
In-form Thai, Kiradech Aphibarnrat has been drawn into Group 3 alongside World No 3 Jon Rahm of Spain and American duo Chez Reavie and Keegan Bradley. On the other hand, China's Haotong Li, who is making his debut in Austin this week, was drawn into Group 4 alongside Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Charl Schwartzel while Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama is in Group 5 with countryman Yusaku Miyazato, Cameron Smith, and Patrick Cantlay. Li faces Reed in his first match tomorrow.
