Shubhankar Sharma ends 4-cut miss streak with ace at Nexo Championship
Synopsis
After four straight missed cuts, Shubhankar Sharma holed his tee shot on the par-three sixth for one of the rarest shots in golf — and made the weekend at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire. The ace didn't just save his round; it may have reignited a career going through a rough patch on the DP World Tour.
Key Takeaways
Shubhankar Sharma ended a run of four consecutive missed cuts at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 22 August .
Sharma carded a hole-in-one on the par-three sixth hole during his second round, the shot of the day.
He sits at one-over 145 after 36 holes , tied 22nd , and will play the final two rounds.
Fellow Indian Yuvraj Sandhu ( 75-79 ) missed the cut.
England's Matthew Southgate leads at four-under after rounds of 70-70 , one clear of four players at three-under.
Shubhankar Sharma ended a run of four consecutive missed cuts at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, carding an even-par second round on 22 August that included the shot of the day — a stunning hole-in-one on the par-three sixth. The Indian golfer sits at one-over 145 after 36 holes, placing him tied 22nd and safely through to the weekend at Trump International Golf Links.
The Ace That Changed the Day
Starting his second round from the first tee, Sharma opened with a birdie before dropping a shot at the fifth hole. He then produced the standout moment of the entire day at the sixth, holing his tee shot for a sensational ace. The hole-in-one injected fresh energy into his round and signalled a return to form for a player who has endured a difficult stretch on the DP World Tour.
Sharma added birdies at the 12th and 13th, but bogeys at the ninth, 11th, 15th and 16th kept his card level, ultimately signing for a 72 to go with his opening 73.
What It Means for Sharma
The weekend appearance is particularly significant for the two-time DP World Tour winner, who has struggled for consistency in recent months. Making the cut at Aberdeenshire gives Sharma a platform to rebuild momentum over the final 36 holes and push up the leaderboard. This is the first cut he has made in five attempts, making the ace all the more timely.
Fellow Indian Yuvraj Sandhu, who carded rounds of 75 and 79, missed the cut and will not feature over the weekend.
Leaderboard at the Halfway Stage
England's Matthew Southgate leads by one stroke heading into the weekend after back-to-back rounds of two-under 70, taking him to four-under for the tournament. Southgate, who began the day three shots off the pace, navigated the testing and windy Aberdeenshire conditions with discipline — making a birdie at the 17th and dropping his only shot at the sixth, before a chip-in eagle at the seventh proved the decisive blow.
At three-under and sharing second place are Matthew Jordan — runner-up in Denmark just last week — and South Africa's Shaun Norris, both of whom carded 69. Scotland's Scott Jamieson and overnight leader Marcus Kinhult are also tied second.
What to Watch Over the Weekend
With four players separated by just one shot at the top, the final two rounds at Trump International Golf Links promise a tight contest. For Sharma, the goal will be to convert the momentum of his ace into a strong finish — and a high leaderboard position could meaningfully improve his standing on the DP World Tour rankings.
Point of View
But the context makes Sharma's ace at the sixth more than a highlight-reel moment. Four missed cuts in a row is a form slump that can unsettle even experienced tour professionals, and the fact that the ace came precisely when Sharma needed a spark is the kind of narrative the DP World Tour rarely scripts. The real question is whether he can convert a feel-good halfway position into a genuine top-ten finish — because on a tour where ranking points and category upgrades are decided by margins, a weekend charge would matter far more than the ace itself. Yuvraj Sandhu's exit at 154 also underlines how thin the margin for error is at this level for Indian golfers still establishing their footing on the European circuit.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Shubhankar Sharma make the cut at the Nexo Championship?
Yes, Shubhankar Sharma made the cut at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, ending a run of four consecutive missed cuts. He sits at one-over 145 after 36 holes, tied 22nd, and will play the final two rounds.
What was Shubhankar Sharma's hole-in-one at the Nexo Championship?
Sharma holed his tee shot on the par-three sixth hole during his second round on 22 August, producing a spectacular ace that was the shot of the day. It came after a birdie on the first hole and a bogey on the fifth.
Who is leading the Nexo Championship after round two?
England's Matthew Southgate leads at four-under par after back-to-back rounds of 70. He holds a one-stroke advantage over four players — Matthew Jordan, Shaun Norris, Scott Jamieson, and Marcus Kinhult — all tied at three-under.
How did Yuvraj Sandhu perform at the Nexo Championship?
Yuvraj Sandhu, the other Indian in the field, missed the cut after rounds of 75 and 79 for a total of 154. He will not feature in the final two rounds.
Why is the cut significant for Shubhankar Sharma?
Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour winner, had missed four consecutive cuts before this event, making his weekend berth at the Nexo Championship a meaningful return to form. The final 36 holes give him an opportunity to climb the leaderboard and improve his DP World Tour ranking.
