New Delhi: Shubhankar Sharma’s magnificent comeback cheered Indian fans in the second round of the $4 million DP World India Championship 2025 to be played at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) here on Friday.
Two-time DP World Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma (74-66) delivered a bogey-free six-under 66, gaining 67 places and ending the day tied for 32nd as the highest-ranked Indian with a total of four-under 140.
PGTI winner Dhruv Sheoran (68-73) and multiple international winners Shiv Kapur (72-69) and Anirban Lahiri (70-71) were the next best Indians in 41st place at three-under 141.
Two-time PGTI winner Abhinav Lohan (70-72) was the fifth and final Indian to reach 58th place with a total score of 2-under 142.
The tournament’s biggest international names dominated the leaderboard as England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68-64) shot a 64 on day two to take the halftime lead at 12-under 132. Former Open champions Brian Harman (68-65) of the United States and Shane Lowry (64-69) of Ireland were tied for second at 11-under 133.
Five-time major winner, world no. No. 2 seed and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy (69-69) of Northern Ireland finished the day in a tie for 17th at six-under 138.
A total of 66 players made it to halftime, a rate of two under 142.
Shubhankar Sharma, tied for 99th overnight after an ordinary first round of 74, had a contrasting second round on Friday in which he birdied three of the four par-5 holes and sank a pair of birdie putts from 15 to 18 feet.
Shubhankar said: “Yesterday I got off to a good start but was a little tired and there were some tired swings. Despite the good start yesterday, I knew I was a bit nervous which showed at the end when I dropped those shots. I slept well last night so I felt a lot fresher in this afternoon’s practice, hitting well, putting well and head was clearer.”
“The last six months have been hard for me, but in the last two weeks everything has improved. After changing my irons recently, I’ve found some form. After several tries, I just couldn’t get the right club and shaft combination. But three weeks ago I changed my clubs and then the ball. I finally feel like I’m getting these things right.”
Dhruv Sheoran, who was in seventh place overnight after his first round of 68, held on Friday with a round of 73 with three birdies and four bogeys. Dhruv survived some tense moments on the final 18th hole after his tee shot went right. He then made a great move up and down from the bunker and ended the day with a 15-foot conversion for bogey that gave him a big boost to start the weekend.
Dhruv said, “After the first nine holes didn’t go right for me, I went into the locker room and told myself that I need to change my swing. I washed my face, looked in the mirror and told myself that it can’t continue like this and I need to pull up my socks. Then when I left the locker room, I was a different person.”
