Impressive Start for Indian Golfers at Turkish Airlines Open

At the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya, Yuvraj Sandhu and Shubhankar Sharma showcased impressive performances, with Sandhu finishing 3-under and Sharma at 2-under. Mikael Lindberg emerged as the early leader with a flawless round of 66. Lindberg's strong form, following a recent third-place finish at the Volvo China Open, adds significance to his quest for a top-three finish to qualify for the US PGA Championship. Read on for more details about their performances and the tournament's highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 2, 2026, 16:02 IST

Strong Indian Start in Antalya

Yuvraj Sandhu kicked off his campaign at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya with a remarkable performance, achieving one of his best opening rounds on the DP World Tour. The newcomer recorded a score of 3-under 69, placing him well within the top 10 after the first day. Another Indian golfer, Shubhankar Sharma, also had a solid outing, finishing with a score of 2-under 70, which put him in a tie for 22nd place.

Lindberg's Late Surge to the Top

Mikael Lindberg from Sweden took the lead early on with an impressive, bogey-free round of 66, giving him a one-shot lead. Although he started his back nine at just one under par, Lindberg made a remarkable comeback, scoring four birdies in his last six holes to finish at six under at the National Golf Club.

Player Performances

Sandhu's round was a mix of highs and lows. He began on the 10th hole and started strong with a birdie on the 12th, but faced a setback with back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th, turning in at one over par. However, he bounced back on his second nine, scoring four birdies on the first, fourth, fifth, and eighth holes to finish at three under.

Sharma's round included a blend of highlights and challenges, featuring three birdies, one eagle, and three bogeys. Lindberg, on the other hand, built his momentum after his first birdie on the 18th, followed by gains on crucial holes, including the par-five first and fourth, and capped off his round with two additional birdies to maintain his lead.

Entering the tournament with strong form, Lindberg had recently achieved a career-best third-place finish at the Volvo China Open, which propelled him to eighth in the Asian Swing Rankings. He is now focused on finishing in the top three to qualify for the upcoming US PGA Championship, adding extra importance to his strong start.