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Cape Town - Shubhankar Sharma is hopeful that going in under the radar can help him the lift the trophy on home soil this week at the Indian Open.
"This was my home course for the longest time, and it feels great to be back on familiar ground and I stay very close to the golf course, so all my family is here to watch me," said Sharma.
Rewind 12 months and the local hero was riding a wave as arguably the hottest name in golf having claimed his first two European titles in quick succession and finished in the top ten in his maiden World Golf Championships event in Mexico.
After leaving New Delhi, he flew back west for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and then made his Major Championship debut at the Masters Tournament having been handed a special invitation to tee it up at Augusta National.
With all that going on, he could have been forgiven for being tired at DLF Golf and Country Club but he equalled the course record in round two en route to a top ten finish.
"The course is playing much better than last year. Most of the players I’ve spoken to have been happy with how the course is. I am obviously a lot more mature this year and really enjoying my game. I just want to get back into the groove again of playing at my best again," said Sharma.
"It would mean the world to me, the Hero Indian Open is very special to us Indians, especially to win on a course that has supported me in my career. And to join the past Indian winners that I have idolised since I was young has always been my goal. Hopefully everything goes well this week and we’ll see what happens."
Scott Hend claimed his third European Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Maybank Championship last week in Kuala Lumpur and the Australian has his sights set on an improved performance in Delhi off the back of that victory.
The 45-year-old, who now sits inside the top ten of the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings, has struggled with the Gary Player designed course in the past, however has an impressive track record in Asia with all three European Tour victories coming from this continent.
One man who has tasted victory in this event is Anirban Lahiri, who won it in 2015 when it joined the Race to Dubai, having been first staged in 1964.
Shiv Chawrasia won it in the next two seasons before Matt Wallace broke the home dominance last term, but two time European Tour winner Lahiri is confident he can challenge to bring the title home if he can stay relaxed over the weekend.
