17-07-2018
India's top international performers this year
As we reach the halfway point of the year, here's a lowdown on India's top four international performers in 2018 so far. We also take a look at the possible milestones within sight for each one of them this year.
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Shubhankar Sharma
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Shubhankar Sharma, who bagged his maiden international win at the European Tour's Joburg Open in late 2017, continued his golden run in 2018 with a second European Tour triumph at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. He followed that up with top-10s at the WGC-Mexico Championship and the Hero Indian Open. This took him to his career-high world ranking of 64. The 21-year-old became the youngest Indian to appear at the year's first two Majors, The Masters & US Open. He is now all set to appear at the year's third Major, the British Open, this week.
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Milestones within sight:
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• Hang on to his lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit to become fifth and youngest Indian to emerge Asia No. 1.
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• Record best finish by an Indian on the European Tour Order of Merit since he is currently placed 17th and the previous best was 12th by Jeev Milkha Singh in 2008.
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• Become fourth and youngest Indian to play all four Majors and also the third and youngest Indian to achieve the feat in the same calendar year.
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• Become first Indian to win three European Tour titles in a single season.
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Rahil Gangjee
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Rahil Gangjee ended a 14-year title drought on the international stage when he won the 2018 Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan, an event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. It accounted for his second Asian Tour win and first on the Japan Golf Tour. Gangjee, who won his last global title at the 2004 Volkswagen Masters – China, thus became only the third Indian to bag a title on the Japan Golf Tour.
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Milestones within sight:
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• Register his career-best Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking since he is currently in fifth place and his previous best has been 19th in 2006 and 2014.
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• Become the first Indian to win the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit since he is currently in ninth place and Jeev Milkha Singh's second position in 2006 is the previous best. ÂÂ
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Anirban Lahiri
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Anirban Lahiri has enjoyed a solid season on the PGA Tour so far. He has posted three top-10s and two other top-20s to be 94th in the FedExCup rankings and 104th in the world rankings. His best finish of the season has been tied fifth at The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in Korea. Lahiri has now all but sealed his card for the 2019 PGA Tour season. He is now all set to play the British Open this week which will see him tie Jeev Milkha Singh for the most Major appearances (14) by an Indian.
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Milestones within sight:
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• Record his career-best ranking in the FedExCup by improving on last year's 51st place which is also an Indian record.
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• Become the second Indian to win on the PGA Tour following in the footsteps of Arjun Atwal.
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• Creating an Indian record of 15 Major appearances (if he plays the 2018 PGA Championship) by surpassing Jeev Milkha Singh's total of 14.
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• Making his fifth appearance at the PGA Championship, the most by an Indian. Currently tied with Jeev Milkha Singh as both have four appearances each.
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Gaganjeet Bhullar
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Gaganjeet Bhullar has secured four top-10s on the Asian Tour this season including a runner-up finish at the Queen's Cup and a joint runner-up finish at the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open where he lost out in a playoff. He is currently placed 11th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
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Milestones within sight:
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• Setting an Indian record by claiming his ninth Asian Tour title. He currently holds the joint record of eight titles along with Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal.
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• Register his career-best Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking since he is currently in 11th place and his previous best has been fifth in 2012 and 2013.
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About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
