Anirban, Shubhankar ready for the Open challenge | Golf News

Anirban Lahiri is ready for his sixth appearance at the Carnoustie Open, widely regarded as one of the most open and rough in his history. Meanwhile, the young Shubhankar Sharma, who has captured the imagination of fans, in India and outside, makes his first appearance in a major that he calls the "dream" for him.

This is only the fourth time that two Indians will be at the Open together, the first being in 2004, when Jyoti Randhawa was T-27 and Arjun Atwal missed the cut.

The return of Tiger Woods, who believes that the Open is the "best chance" to increase his Major total of 14, where he has ranked since 2008, at 15 and over. get closer to Jack Nicklaus, will also be interesting. of 18 victories. Woods is three times winner of the Open and his last success was 2006.

The Open, or the British Open as the Americans call it, is the most important one to which Indian golfers refer because it corresponds to their time zone. His telecast is in prime time and Shubhankar Sharma, who turns 22 on Saturday, said it was one of the best TV memorabilia. In 2007, at the last edition of the Open at Carnoustie, Padraig Harrington inflicted a heartbreaking defeat to Sergio Garcia during the playoffs. These clips are played repeatedly on TV here this time. Garcia, however, has since won the Masters 2017 and moved on.

Sharma as most Indian golfers grew up watching the Open on TV and he watched many editions of the Championships to get an idea of ​​the courses, so he might well feel that he already has played here. For Lahiri, the Open course began in 2012 and it was his first Major. It made it even more memorable with a "Hole-in-One" and his father, Dr. Tushar Lahiri, always has this golf ball as his most precious "memories". Lahiri was T-31 this year, but his best in five previous trips to the world's oldest Major was T-30 at St. Andrews in 2015.

Sharma plays her first tour with DeChambeau and Garcia, while Lahiri plays with Peter Uihlein and Matt Kuchar.

Tiger Woods, Hideki Matsuyama and Scot Russell Knox are paired while defending champion Jordan Spieth steps out with Justin Rose and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.