Shubhankar cruises to handsome win at Tour Championship

Shubhankar Sharma receives his Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship trophy from Romi Dev, wife of the DP World PGTI president in the presence of tour CEO Amandeep Johl and the 24 domestic tour qualifiers for next week’s $4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Gof Club. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.

Shubhankar cruises to handsome win at Tour Championship 

By Rahul Bamerji

Shubhankar Sharma won the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship for his second victory in as many appearances this season on the DP World PGTI at Jaypee Greens on Saturday.

The final margin of victory for Sharma at the Rs 2 crore event presented by Vishwa Samudra and powered by Nalco was a handsome six shots, the DP World PGTI said.

The 30-year-old (68-65-72-69), who began the final round with a two-shot advantage, made an eagle on the par-five 12th, three birdies and two bogeys to finish at 14-under 274.

Shubhankar’s earlier triumph in the season came at the Boulders Classic in April, where he ended an eight-year wait for a professional title.

The two-time DP World Tour winner collected Rs 30 lakh for what was the perfect run-up to next week’s $4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club.

Italy’s Michele Ortolani (72-70-65-73) and Bangalore teenager Manoj S. (70-71-66-73) shared second place at 8 under 280. 

Manoj’s finish earned him Rs 16 lakh and took him from 26th to 17th on the Race to DP World India Championship and a place in next week’s marquee event.

Khalin Joshi (72-67-71-71), a four-time winner this season, finished fourth at 7 under 281 to strengthen his hold on second place in the Order of Merit with season’s earnings of Rs 77,33,825.

Shubhankar began the final round with three early birdies but dropped a couple of bogeys in the middle of the round as Ortolani reduced his advantage.

Quick response 

A bogey on the 10th tightened the contest before the leader responded emphatically.

“I expected the lead to narrow unless I made a very fast start,” Shubhankar said. 

“I made two early birdies, but I wasn’t playing my best. Michele played extremely well, and then I made a poor bogey on 10, probably my worst shot of the day.”

The decisive moment was on the par-five 12th, where Shubhankar holed a putt from approximately 65 feet for eagle in gusty conditions.

“The eagle was a pleasant surprise and came at exactly the right moment,” he said. 

“I had just bogeyed the 10th, and the lead had been reduced considerably. Holing a putt from that distance gave me a huge lift and brought the momentum back in my favour.”

The Chandigarh golfer relied on his short game to protect his advantage over the closing stretch. An important save came on 16 after the wind pushed his tee shot behind a tree.

“The recovery and chip from a bare lie were difficult, and the par putt wasn’t straightforward either,” he said. 

Crucial putts

“My putting made the difference. I holed several crucial putts from five to 10 feet coming in, and the save on 16 was particularly important. No lead is safe until the final putt has been holed.”

The challenging flag positions and gusting wind ensured that Shubhankar had to work hard despite the eventual six-shot margin.

“The course really showed its teeth, particularly with the flag positions,” he pointed out. 

“I had to scramble and make several up-and-downs over the closing holes, so I’m delighted to have finished the job. It was also excellent preparation for next week.”

Shubhankar will now lead the Indian contingent at DGC, the DP World PGTI’s flagship event co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.

The field will feature defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, two-time Masters winner Rory McIlroy, reigning Open champion Ryan Fox, former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, besides other PGA Tour and DPWT winners.

“The DP World Tour has been my home for the past nine years, so I’m looking forward to welcoming many of my friends to India,” Shubhankar said. 

“It will also be an opportunity to showcase one of the country’s finest and most historic golf courses.”

He also spoke warmly about returning to compete on his home tour.

“I grew up on the DP World PGTI and have so many friends here. I play abroad for much of the year, but the friendship and camaraderie I experience here are difficult to find anywhere else. 

Home comfort

“That comfort probably contributes to the good form I produce whenever I return.”

Gurgaon’s’s Harman Sachdeva (74-70-67-71) and 2025 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion Yuvraj Sandhu (71-69-69-73) of Chandigarh shared fifth place at 6 under 282.

Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (75-72-72-70) recorded his only under-par round of the week to climb from tied 25th to tied 16th at 1 over 289. His payout of Rs 2,86,733 took his season earnings to Rs 99,69,017.

Viraj Madappa was ranked 24th in the Race to DP World India Championship at the end of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship with season earnings of Rs 24,90,042. 

The Kolkata golfer was thus the final player to make the grade for the DP World India Championship from the current Order of Merit.

Final standings

1. Saptak Talwar ₹99,69,017

2 Khalin H. Joshi ₹77,33,825

3. Veer Ahlawat ₹65,97,400

4. Honey Baisoya ₹60,01,292

5. Akshay Sharma ₹58,25,468

6. Rashid Khan ₹57,92,809

7. Om Prakash Chouhan ₹54,27,101

8. Kshitij Naveed Kaul ₹52,00,160

9. Angad Cheema ₹45,59,778

10 Jamal Hossain ₹44,52,452

11. Mohd Azhar ₹43,50,300

12. Manu Gandas ₹42,95,283

13. Shaurya Bhattacharya ₹42,57,750

14. Dhruv Seoran ₹41,66,933

15. Amardeep Malik ₹39,29,718

16. Vishesh Sharma ₹37,21,026

17. Manoj S. ₹35,92,684

18. Anshul Kabthiyal ₹35,39,850

19. Ajeetesh Sandhu ₹35,04,775

20. Kartik Singh ₹33,10,660

21. Shubhm Jaglan ₹31,86,725

22. Stepan Danek ₹26,66,117

23. Subhash Tamang ₹26,37,375

24. Viraj Madappa ₹24,90,042

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