‘I Was Able To Rediscover It Last Week’: Shubhankar Sharma On Finding His Winning Touch Again

Fresh from a victory on home soil, the Indian golfer discusses confidence, technical adjustments, mental resilience and the importance of trusting the process ahead of the DP World India Championship.

Shubhankar Sharma heads into the DP World India Championship with something every golfer craves: the confidence that comes from winning. After enduring a challenging period in his career, the Indian golfer has found renewed belief following his triumph at the Kapil Dev Invitational in Greater Noida, and he is determined to make the most of that momentum at the Delhi Golf Club.

The victory marked Sharma's second win in as many appearances on the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) this season. His previous triumph came at the Boulders Classic in April, where he ended an eight-year wait for a professional title. He earned Rs 30 lakh for his latest victory, adding another encouraging chapter to his comeback.

Shubhankar Sharma Rediscovers Winning Confidence Ahead Of World India Championship

For Sharma, however, the significance of the win goes beyond the result. It has offered reassurance that the work he has been putting into his game is beginning to produce the desired results.

Speaking exclusively to myKhel ahead of the DP World India Championship, Sharma reflected on the importance of regaining his winning touch and carrying that confidence into a tournament featuring some of the biggest names in international golf.

"It's good. Wins in golf don't come easily, and whenever you win, you get that feeling of momentum. Last week was amazing, but that's behind me now. This is a new week, and I want to carry forward the same mindset of attacking the course and playing freely. I hadn't experienced that feeling for some time, and I was able to rediscover it last week."

That renewed sense of freedom could prove crucial as Sharma prepares to compete against an elite international field that includes Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Aaron Rai and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood.

The $4 million championship provides Indian golfers with an opportunity to measure themselves against some of the finest players in the world.

Professional golf demands patience, precision and the ability to withstand prolonged periods of uncertainty. Even talented players can struggle to translate hard work into consistent results, and Sharma has experienced that challenge over the past couple of seasons.

Rather than allowing a difficult spell to define his career, the two-time DP World Tour winner has continued searching for solutions. His approach has involved reassessing his equipment, refining his technique and returning to fundamentals that can help him perform more consistently.

Shubhankar Sharma, who is also a brand ambassador for Roundglass and a mentor to young trainees at the Roundglass Golf Academy, believes that maintaining faith during challenging periods is just as important as making technical improvements.

He believes golfers must maintain perspective when results do not go their way and remember that setbacks are an inevitable part of competing at the highest level.

"You just have to tell yourself that your best is still ahead of you. You have to look at the bigger picture. This game can beat you up mentally, and that happens to even the best players. You just have to keep going and remind yourself of what you really want to achieve.
It's also important to surround yourself with the right people, whether they are supporters or members of your coaching staff, who can help you move in the right direction. I've been fortunate in that regard."

The message reflects a broader truth about professional sport: progress is rarely linear. Confidence can fluctuate, performances can fall short of expectations, and even small technical adjustments can take time to deliver results. Sharma's latest victory offers encouragement, but his immediate challenge is to convert that confidence into sustained performances.

One of the important adjustments in Sharma's recent journey has been his approach to golf equipment. As his physical strength developed, he felt the need to reassess the clubs he was using to achieve greater stability and control.

Equipment Changes And Mental Resilience Behind Sharma's Comeback

Golf equipment is not simply about hitting the ball farther. The relationship between a player's swing, the shaft and the clubhead can influence ball flight, spin and consistency. At the elite level, even marginal differences can affect a player's ability to control shots under pressure.

Explaining the reasoning behind his changes, Sharma said: "Yes, I think the main reason was that I felt I was getting stronger, so I needed something more stable. This is a natural progression that happens with every player. You make certain changes to find greater stability, and that was the reason behind it. There were a few ups and downs, but I think I'm in a good place with my equipment now."

He also highlighted the importance of finding the right shaft for an individual's swing, explaining why equipment choices can become increasingly significant as players seek greater precision.

"The shaft is a very important component of a golf club. The clubhead is obviously important, but the shaft is an extension of your body. Its flex and torque determine how it behaves during the swing. It has to match your swing.

At the highest level, these things really matter because we're trying to control the ball flight and sometimes fine-tune the spin by as little as 200 rpm. At this level, the shaft, the strike and the quality of contact become very important. That's why the shaft plays such a crucial role."

His comments underline the fine margins that separate good performances from exceptional ones. For a professional golfer, finding equipment that complements the natural mechanics of a swing can be just as important as making technical improvements on the practice range.

With Sharma now feeling more comfortable with his equipment, the focus shifts to reproducing that confidence throughout a demanding tournament week.

Delhi Golf Club's Unique Challenge & Importance Of Trusting The Process

The Delhi Golf Club presents a distinctive challenge, even for players accustomed to competing on different courses around the world. Unlike modern layouts that often place a premium on length, the historic venue rewards accuracy, strategic thinking and the ability to control the ball.

Sharma believes the course's traditional design is one of its biggest attractions, making it a compelling test for a field featuring players with different strengths and playing styles.

"This is a very narrow course, and that's its beauty. It's a very old course. These days, golf courses tend to be much longer, with more bunkers and water hazards. This course, however, has a timeless design.

Everyone starts on an equal footing, and no one has a significant advantage over others, especially when it comes to driving distance. It's all about ball control. That's how golf used to be played, with more feel, touch and finesse.

This golf course brings all those elements into play. It's also a great place to test your process and strategy."

The course's emphasis on precision could make decision-making particularly important. Players will need to judge their shots carefully, manage risk and remain disciplined rather than relying solely on distance.

Sharma is also impressed by the preparations for this year's championship, particularly the condition of the course and the quality of the field.

"Yeah, the course is absolutely sublime. It is probably in the best condition it has ever been in. I think this year's championship is bigger than last year's in terms of the overall field, the course setup and the number of players who have come here. I'm personally very excited, coming into the tournament in decent form after my win last week. So, I'm looking forward to it."

The presence of established international stars offers more than just a competitive challenge. It also provides an opportunity to observe the habits and routines that help the best players maintain high standards across different tournaments and playing conditions.

Having competed at the highest level himself, Sharma recognises that success is not built on technical ability alone. Preparation, time management and consistency in daily routines can be equally important, particularly on a tour where players regularly encounter different time zones, grass types and course conditions.

"I think every player is technically different, and now that I've competed at the highest level, I understand what it takes. However, I think the biggest thing the best players in the world do well is maintain their routines and manage their time.

They have a lot of media commitments and other responsibilities, but they follow similar routines and stick to the same fundamentals week after week. That gives them consistency.

In golf, everything is constantly changing, time zones, different types of grass and playing conditions. Their routine is the one thing that remains consistent, and I think that's one of the reasons they are among the best players in the world."

It is a lesson that fits naturally into Sharma's own objectives. Rather than searching for a dramatic change after every disappointing performance, he is looking to establish a reliable process that can help him reproduce his best golf more frequently.

That attention to fundamentals also extends to the putting green, where Sharma continues to work on the basics that underpin his game.

"Just the usual things, the fundamentals. Getting the right roll, stance and posture. These are the things you check pretty much every week. We have a great field assembled for this competition."

Sharma's encouraging run of results has given him a platform to build on, but the real test will be sustaining his level across an entire tournament. A strong opening round can create opportunities, yet golf rarely rewards players who lose sight of their process as the pressure increases.

He knows that success at the DP World India Championship will require patience, disciplined decision-making and the ability to remain committed to his routine over four demanding rounds.

"I'm in a good place. Once again, it comes down to the process and routine, and that's what I want to focus on. Golf is a long game, and you can't achieve much on the first day alone.

It's a marathon, so you have to keep going, stick to your process and give yourself a chance."

For Sharma, the championship represents an opportunity to build on the confidence restored by his latest victory and demonstrate that his recent progress can translate into consistent performances against a world-class field.

There are no guarantees in professional golf, particularly in a tournament featuring multiple established international stars. But Sharma arrives with a victory behind him, greater comfort with his equipment and a clearer understanding of what he needs to do.

Perhaps most importantly, he has rediscovered the belief that difficult phases do not have to determine what comes next. At the Delhi Golf Club, his challenge will be to trust that belief, remain patient and give himself every opportunity to compete.

As his own words suggest, the objective is not to chase immediate results but to keep working towards the golfer he believes he can still become. For Sharma, the latest victory may be a step forward, but the bigger ambition remains to turn that renewed confidence into a sustained return to form.