First of many masters for Shubhankar

I haven’t waited this anxiously for a Thursday morning before. The excitement is over the roof as the young Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma will be teeing off for the first time at the coveted masters alongside two local boys Rusell Henrey and Larry Mize.

After great 4 months and terrific play at world golf championship in Mexico last month where he led through 54 holes, Sharma got the invitation to play in the masters, the first of four majors. He is only the fourth Indian player to play in the masters. It is a dream of any golfer to play in this tournament and then getting to play this early in life is indeed a special moment for him and for the entire nation.

While all the attention will be on resurgent Tiger woods, Phil Mickelson who is vying to become the oldest masters champion at the age of 47, Rory Mcilroy who will have an opportunity to complete the career grand slam or Sergio Garcia who will try to defend his title after Tiger Woods did 16 years back. Each one of them is chasing greatness.

The field consists of some great past champions and some exciting young guns, but there is man who can inspire billion people back home if he does well. It will help increase games popularity in Asia like Tiger was able to do for US and for rest of the world.

Sharma is playing well and he is high on confidence. He is calm and composed and is not stupefied by grandeur of the occasion or is overawed by seeing his childhood hero Tiger Woods.

I hope he starts well on Thursday and carries on the momentum. He has got the great caddy in Mitch Knox who has experience of caddying a major winner and have walked on the greens umpteen times which will help him making better and informed decision while hitting the shots or rolling the putts.

Asian golf is in good hands but we need more players and role models to draw more people into this sport. A masters winner here can open the doors for this change.

Hoping for a strong finish from Shubhankar Sharma on his first masters tournament. All the best!

Go Shubhankar!

He tees off at 12:32 EST or 22:02 IST on Thursday.