Shubhankar Sharma bounces back for year’s best at Scottish Open
The Indian golfer finished tied-26th at the European Tour event after a solid final round, which saw him climb 19 places at the Renaissance Club.
Shubhankar Sharma put on a solid show in the final round of the Scottish Open golf championship on Sunday to end the event tied-26th and record his best finish on the European Tour in 2020.
The Indian golfer carded four-under 280 on aggregate (70-67-76-67) at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland and bettered his tied-44th from the Portugal Masters last month.
The 24-year-old Sharma climbed a commendable 19 places in the final round after inclement weather in the penultimate outing had dropped him to T-47.
Englishman Aaron Rai took his second European Tour title after seeing off compatriot Tommy Fleetwood in the playoff. The two had finished at the top after carding an 11-under 273 in the regulation rounds.
Starting the final round on the back nine, Sharma carded four birdies at the break, which included successive ones on the 12th and 13th and at the 17th and 18th holes.
On the turn, he dropped a shot with a bogey on the first hole but made up for it with a birdie on the seventh to finish the round four-under 67.
Weather blip for Shubhankar Sharma
After climbing to tied-13 to make the cut, Sharma had slipped in the rain-hit third round in what he described as the “most challenging conditions” he had played in.
He was on even-par until the 12th hole -- with three birdies and three bogeys -- before the weather afflicted his run. Sharma carded a double bogey on the 13th and then bogeyed on the 14th, 15th and 16th, dropping five shots in just four holes.
“At one time the rain was sideways and it was difficult to grip the clubs,” said Shubhankar Sharma, whose third round carded a five-over 76.
“We were soaked to the skin and had to quickly take off all as soon as we got to the hotel. It was quite an experience,” added the two-time European Tour winner.
It was the only blip for Shubhankar Sharma at the Scottish Open. His opening round of one-under 70 was his best start since February when he carded a two-under 68 at the Saudi International. In the second round, he had carded an eagle and also four birdies in a row.
Compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar, who was also at the Scottish Open, didn’t make the cut for the weekend.