Sheoran and Sharma Share Lead at Telangana Golconda Masters 2026

In an exciting opening round at the Telangana Golconda Masters 2026, Dhruv Sheoran and local favorite Vishesh Sharma both achieved impressive scores of 10-under 60, sharing the lead. Sheoran, with a career-best performance, made 11 birdies and one bogey, while Sharma matched him with an eagle and nine birdies. Amardeep Malik closely follows with a score of nine-under 61. The tournament showcases thrilling golf action as players vie for the top spot in the DP World PGTI rankings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 2, 2026, 15:31 IST

Exciting Start at the Telangana Golconda Masters

Dhruv Sheoran and local favorite Vishesh Sharma both achieved remarkable scores of 10-under 60, tying for the lead after the first round of the 2026 Telangana Golconda Masters held at the Hyderabad Golf Association.

Sheoran, 31, from Gurugram, recorded 11 birdies and only one bogey, marking the best score of his career. Previously a winner on the PGTI in 2024, he entered this tournament ranked 12th in the 2026 Race to DP World India Championship. Starting from the par-five 10th hole, he made five consecutive birdies until a bogey on the par-four 15th, but quickly regained his momentum to finish the round without further mistakes.

Nineteen-year-old Vishesh, competing in his second season on the DP World PGTI, matched Sheoran's score during the afternoon session, which included an eagle on the par-five sixth hole, nine birdies, and one bogey.

Amardeep Malik from Noida, a two-time tour winner, is just one stroke behind the leaders with a score of nine-under 61, featuring 10 birdies and a single bogey.

Koichiro Ishika from Japan, in his first season on the DP World PGTI, finished fourth with a bogey-free seven-under 63.

Sheoran's Impressive Round

Sheoran's round began unexpectedly when he hit his opening drive into a bunker. With trees obstructing his path to the green, he executed a remarkable 40-yard cut from approximately 260 yards, landing on the green and nearly sinking a 50-foot putt for birdie.

"I started strong, even though my first tee shot went left and put me out of position. I made solid contact with my recovery shot, found the green, and almost made the long putt. That gave me a lot of momentum," Sheoran remarked.

He followed up with a 20-foot birdie on the 11th, a 10-footer on the 12th, and an eight-footer on the 13th. After driving the green on the 14th, he two-putted to complete five consecutive birdies.

His only setback occurred on the 15th hole, where he pushed a pitching wedge lay-up into the trees and had to take a penalty drop. "The birdies had given me a cushion, and I knew the momentum was still on my side, so the mistake did not unsettle me," he explained.

Regaining Form After Moving to Japan

After hitting a challenging tee shot on the first hole, Sheoran regained his rhythm for the final stretch. "Once I hit that tee shot the way I wanted, I felt I could express my game. From there, I played with controlled aggression and continued executing my tee shots and approaches," he stated.

Sheoran relocated to Japan in mid-June due to his wife's nationality, which disrupted his usual practice routine. Initially, he struggled to regain his preferred right-to-left ball flight upon returning to competition. "I was quite rusty when I came back and couldn't move the ball the way I wanted," he admitted. "I worked with my coach before last week's Telangana Open and started seeing my preferred ball flight again. The top-10 finish there gave me the confidence I needed, and that progress showed today."

Unaware that he had matched the course record until after his round, Sheoran thought he needed to hole a 20-foot birdie putt on the last to equal the mark. "I later realized I was already 10-under. It would have been nice to make that putt and establish a new course record," he said.

Vishesh's Local Triumph

Vishesh also discovered after his round that he had matched the course record set by Manu Gandas in 2022 at his home course. "Today's round was very special, particularly because it came at my home course. Everything seemed to go my way. I putted well, struck some good shots and, despite a slow start, stayed patient and kept returning my focus to the present," he shared.

He made a 15-foot eagle putt on the sixth hole and hit his tee shot on the par-three 16th to about three feet for another birdie. However, Vishesh emphasized that his par saves were equally crucial. "The rough around the greens is quite thick, and the ball tends to sit down. Even if you miss a green by only a foot, the recovery can be difficult. Saving par from those positions makes a significant difference by the end of the round," he noted.

Matching the course record was particularly meaningful for Vishesh as it occurred on familiar turf. "It is a special achievement, especially because it happened at my home course. Playing here certainly helps. I get to sleep in my own bed, eat home-cooked food prepared by my mother and compete on a course I know extremely well," he added.

Standings and Other Competitors

Sri Lanka's N Thangaraja and Delhi's Honey Baisoya are tied for fifth place at six-under 64.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain from Bangladesh started with a two-over 72, placing him tied for 72nd, while current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar finished with an even-par 70, sharing 50th place.

The Race to DP World India Championship aims to crown the top player in the DP World PGTI and will determine the top 24 players from the DP World PGTI Order of Merit who will qualify for the season-ending DP World India Championship.