Shubhankar Sharma's six-shot victory at Kapil Dev Invitational provides timely boost ahead of PGTI Championship

NEW DELHI: Shubhankar Sharma could hardly have asked for better preparation ahead of the PGTI Championship. The Chandigarh golfer produced a composed final-round performance to win the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship by six strokes at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort on Sunday, finishing with a three-under 69 for a total of 14-under 274.Starting the day with a two-shot lead, Sharma faced a stern challenge from Italy’s Michele Ortolani before pulling away in the closing holes. The victory was his second in as many appearances on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) this season, underlining the form he has been building in recent months.For Sharma, the win meant more than another trophy. After going eight years without a professional title, he broke that drought at the Boulders Classic in April. His latest triumph suggests that the confidence gained there is beginning to translate into consistent performances.With the PGTI Championship scheduled at Delhi Golf Club from Oct 15 to 18, the timing could hardly be better. The event will bring together some of the biggest names in world golf, and Sharma will head into the week with renewed belief in his game.“I won; I'm very happy. It wasn't a very good last week. My main goal coming here was to find momentum,” Sharma said after the victory. “It's a very technical game where you sometimes have to go back to your basics.”Sharma arrived at the venue on Monday and spent much of his preparation working on the fundamentals. That effort paid off over the four rounds, although the final day was far from straightforward.He began with a couple of early birdies, but bogeys midway through the round allowed Ortolani to narrow the gap. A dropped shot on the 10th added to the pressure and briefly threatened to make the contest more complicated than Sharma would have liked.“I expected the lead to narrow unless I made a very fast start. I made two early birdies, but I wasn't playing my best. Michele played extremely well, and then I made a poor bogey on the 10th. That was probably my worst shot of the day,” he said.The turning point came on the par-five 12th. Playing in gusty conditions, Sharma sank a putt from around 60 to 70 feet for an eagle, restoring his advantage at a crucial stage of the round. It was the kind of shot that changed the mood of the contest and gave him the breathing space he needed.Although the final margin was six strokes, Sharma still had work to do before he could celebrate. His short game came under pressure on the closing stretch, particularly on the 16th, where a wayward tee shot was blown behind a tree. Faced with a difficult recovery from a bare lie, he had to rely on his touch to save Par.“The greens were very hard and fast, so it wasn't easy. Putting was definitely a challenge,” Sharma explained. “If you miss the fairway, to stop it on the green becomes really hard because the rough comes between the ball and the club and you can't impart as much spin as you want on the ball.”Having last played at Jaypee Greens in 2013, Sharma was familiar with the venue but found plenty to test him, particularly with the demanding pin positions.That preparation will now be put to the test against a formidable international field at the India Championship. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood will be joined by two-time Masters winner Rory McIlroy, reigning Open champion Ryan Fox, and former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, among other leading players from the PGA Tour and European Tour.Sharma's experience on the international circuit could prove valuable. A two-time European Tour winner, he has spent much of the past nine years competing overseas and is accustomed to the depth of competition at that level.“Obviously, the experience of the European Tour is great for me,” he said. “I've been there for nine years, so I rarely come back and play.”He also credited Roundglass and the Roundglass Foundation for supporting his career and giving him the opportunity to compete regularly abroad. That backing, he said, has played an important role in his development as a golfer.Returning to India, however, brings its own advantages. Beyond the familiar courses, Sharma values the friendships and sense of belonging he finds on the domestic circuit, where he first developed as a professional.Sharma also sees room for Indian golf to grow, particularly through the development of more challenging courses and greater opportunities to compete against international players. While he recognises the quality of courses already available in the country, he believes comparisons with overseas venues need to account for differences in climate, grass types, and course design.There was encouragement for the domestic circuit elsewhere in the leaderboard, too. Bengaluru's Manoj S finished tied for second with Ortolani at eight-under 280. His runner-up finish lifted him from 26th to 17th in the Race to India Championship, securing his place in next week's field.Khalin Joshi finished fourth at seven-under, while Harman Sachdeva and Yuvraj Sandhu shared fifth place at six-under.Saptak Talwar continued to lead the season-long race, with Viraj Madappa occupying the final qualifying position through the current PGTI Order of Merit.For Sharma his week at Jaypee Greens delivered exactly what he had come looking for, a return to form, greater confidence, and a timely reminder of what he can achieve when his game comes together.The next step will be turning that momentum into a strong showing on home soil against an elite international field.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.