India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who has begun his ascent as a Golfing powerhouse, is now on the cusp of history as he leads a star-studded field at the WGC Mexico Championship.

 

 

                                  Sharma is vying to break into the top 50 in time to earn a Masters berth

 

 

Shubhankar Sharma upstaged the biggest names in golf by bravely maintaining his overnight two-shot lead following the third round of the USD 10 million World Golf Championships here, venturing into a territory hitherto unknown to Indian golfers.

 

 

Phil Mickelson dismissed Shubhankar Sharma as a member of the media at the WGC-Mexico Championship on Saturday, but the veteran American will not mistake the Indian when they play together in the final threesome on Sunday. 

In what looms as a David versus Goliath confrontation — a five-times major champion against a 21-year-old in his first PGA Tour event — Mickelson and Sharma will tee off in the final group along with Tyrrell Hatton at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.

 

 

 

                                         Phil Mickelson dismissed Shubhankar Sharma as a member of the media

 

 

Said Shubhankar, "Me and my caddie, we both went up to him," Sharma said. "He thought we were media and he said, 'Not right now, after the round.' Then he just realized and said, 'So sorry, I thought you were media,' and he said hi, I said hi. Then he made a few putts and he came back to me and said, 'Have a good day.' It was nice."

 

 

He's vying to break into the top 50 in time to earn a Masters berth. With a win on Sunday he would become the youngest player to win a WGC event, eclipsing the mark of Patrick Reed who won the 2014 WGC Mexico Championship at 23 years old.

 

"I don't really want to think about it," Sharma said. "That would put too much pressure on me. I just want to go ahead and enjoy myself.

 

 

Sharma hit 11 of 14 fairways – his highest total of the week – and 10 of 18 greens in regulation during his third round.

 

 

He had five birdies and three bogeys in his two-under par 69 at Club de Golf Chapultepec near Mexico City, where his 13-under par total of 200 put him two clear of five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Rafa Cabrera Bello.