Rising star Shubankar Sharma from India kept things going Saturday at Chapultepec Golf Club but his lead has shrunk to just two shots. Here’s how things shook out Saturday, moving day at the WGC-Mexico:
The 21-year-old Sharma sank a clutch putt at the 18th hole from 12 feet to save par. It preserved a two-shot lead going into Sunday’s finale. His 69 got him o 13-under par. He has so much on the line Sunday — a spot in The Masters, a PGA Tour card and an entire new career path in front of him. The pressure will be enormous.
There are four players who will start the final round just two shots back: Phil Mickelson (65), Tyrrell Hatton (64), Sergio Garcia (69) and Rafa Cabrera-Bello (69). That in and of itself is an impressive list of credentialed players in pursuit of young Sharma.
There’s even more talent starting three shots back including world’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson (68) along with Pat Perez (68), Brian Harman (68) and Xander Schauffele (70).
If that’s not an impressive enough list of chasers, consider that world’s No. 3 Justin Thomas inserted himself into the conversation. He started the day 11 shots back of Sharma, but after shooting a course-record 62, nine-under par, he’s suddenly in position for a second straight victory.
Sharma started to show some nerves on the back nine. He had gone bogey-free over that nine the first two days but made bogeys at 13 and 16 Saturday and then made the clutch putt at 18 to avoid a third bogey coming home.
2 Comments
RM
Has everything needed for a great Sunday. Enormous is as good a word as any to describe the pressure. Easy to advise him to breathe slowly, relax and enjoy the opportunity, slow things down, stay in the moment, etc.
But no getting around it, this is one of those situations where this one day could be a total game changer for your career.
Wish him the best. Can’t imagine he will sleep an instant.
Tom Edrington
Yes, look at everything that’s on the line, the PGA Tour is his dream….