Hyderabad, it seems, has a type. This week, it's decided to bestow its golfing affections upon a rather disparate duo. First up, we have Vishesh Sharma, a lad who’s barely old enough to legally rent a car, let alone shoot the lights out at his home course. At nineteen, this kid’s apparently decided that a future in corporate sponsorship is far more appealing than, say, trying to figure out why his seven-iron insists on finding the trees. He’s not just playing well; he’s gone and matched the damn course record. I can only imagine his parents are either bursting with pride or frantically Googling "how to handle a golf prodigy without losing your mind."
Sharing this rather lofty perch is Dhruv Sheoran, a gentleman of thirty-one years who’s probably seen more bad golf swings than I’ve had hot dinners. His career path, I’m told, has had its ups and downs, much like my own attempts to navigate the treacherous terrain between the sofa and the fridge. Sheoran, a man who already boasts a win this year (fancy that!), delivered a round so ridiculously good it makes you question everything you thought you knew about luck. Eleven birdies and only one bogey. It’s the kind of performance that makes you want to have a stern word with the universe about fairness, or maybe just grab him a strong drink. He even managed to escape a bunker that looked like it was designed by a sadist, only to nearly hole out for eagle. I suspect this level of audacity comes less from pure skill and more from a blissful ignorance of how truly awful that situation should have been.
Sharma, bless his young heart, pulled off his own bit of magic. An eagle, nine birdies, and a single bogey. It's like the golf gods decided to have a bet on who could outdo the other, splitting their divine favour between youth and experience. The course itself, snaking around the historic Golconda Fort, must be utterly flummoxed. It’s more accustomed to us hackers groaning over duffed chips, not this… this insulting display of proficiency.
Meanwhile, Amardeep Malik, a two-time winner no less, is lurking just one shot back. His solid performance is a sharp reminder that even when faced with such absurdity, the game is still very much on. I picture Malik, probably muttering darkly about a missed putt the size of a postage stamp, replaying every shot in his head like a disgruntled detective.
And let’s not forget Koichiro Ishika, a newcomer who’s decided to make a splash with a bogey-free round. His presence hints that this whole golf thing is still a global, maddening, and occasionally brilliant affair. Who knows what other lunatics are out there waiting to join the party?