Olympics 2024: Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar vow to tame tough Paris course

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, July 22

“Golf, like measles, should be caught young.” This observation by English humorist PG Wodehouse is true for Indian golf, as catching golf young has been the key to the success of our top golfers, which has pushed the sport up the — to the extent of expecting medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Jesse Grewal — the first golf coach to be conferred with the Dronacharya Award — is among the scouts who catch them young. He rates the two male golfers from the region — Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar very highly; it’s not just because he has seen them from their earliest days in golf, but also because they’d be teeing off at the Le Golf National, where they have extensive experience of playing.

The Olympics debutants — 28-year-old Sharma and 36-year-old Bhullar — are very different from each other, but they share a trait; The ability to adapt to any situation, at any time. At the Olympics, golfers play aggressively because it’s a once-in-four years opportunity, and Europeans and Americans are expected to excel.

Tough course

Grewal, who was with Sharma at the British Open at Royal Troon, Scotland, said Le Golf National Club is a tough course, and that it must be tamed with high-risk play. Sharma is in great form, finishing tied-19th at the British Open, and Bhullar is in fine touch too, says Grewal.

“While Shubhankar relies more on improving through practice, Bhullar relies more on playing more golf. They both can showcase good, quality golf in France,” said Grewal from Scotland.

The golfers, he explains, would have to focus on playing a high-game, changing their attitude in France. Sharma and Bhullar are vastly experienced: Bhullar is an 11-time Asian Tour champion and 2006 Asian Games silver medallist; Sharma is the youngest Indian golfer to win an Asian Tour title, and the first Indian golfer to win an European Tour title.

Sharma in Olympics mode

Sharma is eager to make his Olympics debut and is high spirits. “Excited for my first Olympics,” said Sharma over the phone from Scotland. “I have been looking forward to it for almost a year now. I like the golf course and have played there many times. There’s a sense of familiarity — that’s the biggest positive for me,” he added. Sharma hopes to get emotional support during his Olympics rounds.

All set, says Bhullar

While Olympics-bound players are preparing across the world, the seasoned Bhullar opted to come back to his hometown, Kapurthala, after spending two weeks in France. Bhullar knows the course well, and terms it one of the toughest in Europe. “It is one of the toughest courses in the European Tour,” said the world No. 54. “It takes a lot of courage to play there. Playing long and straight will be very important. The last three holes are very challenging as one starts closing the game,” said Bhullar. Bhullar spent two weeks at the venue, and returned to India when it was closed for maintenance.