Sharma, on the other hand, said: “It was a disappointing day for me. I had a few bad swings at the start that put me off my rhythm. The double-bogey on the fifth compounded my problems. Thereafter, it was all about trying to catch up with the lead.
“I had a few birdies today but there were just too many bogeys for my liking. But these things happen. Regardless of the result I’m quite happy that after being five-over through the first nine holes of the tournament I managed to finish with a four-under total.
He added, “I thank the crowd here at the DLF Golf & Country Club for their outstanding support through the week. A lot of good things have happened with me over the past few months, I’ll now try my best to carry forward the momentum in the coming months.”
On the final day, when the local lad stuttered despite a decent start with two birdies in first four holes, Wallace stood firm with four birdies on the front nine. A fifth birdie on 10th gave him a handy lead. As Sharma fell down with two doubles on front nine and a third on back nine, Wallace was steady.
Only Andrew Johnston was his worry and that stayed right till the end. When Wallace opened the door with a bogey on 16th, Johnston playing a group ahead birdied 17th and the two were locked in a tie at 11-under in regulation.
Wallace, a prolific winner on the Alps Tour – an European circuit below the European Challenge Tour – played the way he has all week. He went for the green on his second at the par-5 18th and he reached it fine. He birdied, while Johnston, who had layed up each day did the same and managed only a par handing the Trophy to Wallace.
Wallace received the Trophy and his cheque for US$ 291,660 for his second European Tour win from Hero MotoCorp Chairman, Managing Director and CEO, Pawan Munjal.
Matt Wallace, Hero Indian Open 2018 Champion