New Delhi: There is a familiar rhythm to Shubhankar Sharma’s return to the Delhi Golf Club. The gentle rustle of neem and peepal leaves, the distant calls of various birds and the golden October sunlight slicing through the trees that line the fairways. For Shubhankar, who grew up playing here as a promising amateur before his rise on the European (DP World) Tour, this return feels deeply personal. The mild warmth of an autumn afternoon gives the course a serene, almost painterly calm. As he walked down the narrow fairways, Shubhankar isn’t just another professional; he is ready to lead India’s charge at the DP World India Championship on a turf that once shaped his game. “The place is actually the same. It’s just that there are too many tents and chalets around the golf course, and that’s exciting and good because this event has to feel like it’s a big tournament and it feels like it,” Shubhankar said during a media interaction at the DGC on Tuesday. “Obviously with the number of players and these are some big players who are playing here; it’s no joke. Rory (McIlroy) is here, Tommy (Fleetwood) is here. They’re all great players but great people also. Shane (Lowry) is here. It makes it a very big event. “For me, it just feels like I’m at home again because I spent so much time here as a kid. The main structures haven’t changed, the annex, the clubhouse, all of that hasn’t changed. They’ve changed the greens a little bit, but the overall setup is the same, and the rough is likely thicker, but overall, the buzz is a lot more.” For Shubhankar, the DGC also poses challenges beyond its beauty. The fairways are narrow, hemmed in by thick trees that punish even the slightest misjudgment. Accuracy off the tee is crucial with swirling winds and deceptive yardages likely to add to the test. Putting can be treacherous; the grain and subtle slopes often mislead even seasoned players. “The greens are good. They’re slightly undulating. It’s slightly different to what players remember from back in the day when they were a lot flatter and slightly on the slower side. Now, they have a lot of runoff areas. So, there are a lot of swales and bowls around the greens where if you end up it’s not the easiest of shots from there because it’s quite sandy. Also, there was so much rain here, so those become collection points for water. It’s not the easiest. This course is grainy with the grass and the type of grass, the Bermuda grass, on the greens is not the easiest. The rough is also up, so it’ll be challenging,” the 29-year-old said.Shubhankar hopes the week at DGC marks a collective breakthrough for Indian golf. “If there are five Indian players in the top 10 this week, it’ll be the best Indian week ever in the history of golf in India. Hopefully that happens,” the affable golfer said.
