Shubhankar Sharma would be the solely Indian passport holder teeing off on the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland on Thursday at the same time as a number of Indian-origin gamers, together with Akshay Bhatia, would intention to carry aloft the Claret Jug on the oldest Main over the weekend. Final yr Sharma completed tied-eighth at Royal Liverpool for the all time end by an Indian on the British Open. Other than Sharma, the opposite Indian contact at Liverpool was Sahith Theegala, who missed the minimize. Nonetheless, this time round, there’s a sturdy Indian flavour within the area, together with Theegala, one of the crucial thrilling younger stars, Bhatia, the left-hander who defied the favored norm of enjoying faculty earlier than turning professional, and Aaron Rai, whose behavior of sporting gloves on each arms, turns head within the {golfing} world.
The trio of Theegala, Bhatia and Rai, all have Indian blood in them, although the primary two characterize america and the third is now an Englishman.
Theegala’s dad and mom grew up in Hyderabad, earlier than making US their residence, the place their son turned a tremendous {golfing} prospect as he swept all prestigious awards on the collegiate degree. Now, he’s world No. 11 and on the doorsteps of a brand new milestone of being the top-10 participant on this planet.
Bhatia selected a unique path. Bypassing faculty golf after a chat with Phil Mickelson, the golfer, whose dad and mom got here from North India, went to mini Tour occasions, earlier than successful on the Korn Ferry and eventually making his method into the principle PGA Tour.
Bhatia has now received twice on the PGA Tour and Mickelson speaks glowingly about this left-hander who has typically stated that his idol is ‘Lefty’ the person who has six Majors and now performs on the Liv Golf League.
Bhatia, who earned his method into the Masters by successful every week earlier than the primary Main of the yr, completed T-35 at Augusta, however missed the minimize at PGA. He was then T-16 on the US Open.
He has been a constant performer this yr. He has one win, two different top-10s and 7 extra finishes in top-20 out of a complete of 20 begins. After beginning the yr in a hundred and tenth place on this planet, he’s now twenty sixth and climbing.
And eventually, Rai. The Wolverhampton lad’s dad and mom grew up in Kenya and their dad and mom have been born in India. Rai speaks fondly of his go to to India for the 2018 Hero Indian Open the place he completed tied-ninth.
Rai has been within the top-7 in his final three begins on the PGA Tour at the same time as he searches for his first win. Total, he has 5 finishes in top-7 and three different top-20 finishes in 19 begins in 2024, and is now at a career-best forty fifth place in world rankings.
variety of Indian golf followers will hold an eye fixed not solely on Sharma, but additionally on Indian-People Theegala and Bhatia, and Rai, the Brit with an Indian heritage.
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