New Delhi: Shubhankar Sharma is determined to become only the second Asian player ever to claim the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in just his debut appearance as he feels he has got the game to be counted among the best.

The $10 million event starts at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai on Thursday.

“I’m playing this event for the first time...It’s obviously going to be a very exciting week as only the best players in the world will be here and I’m part of them,” Sharma said.

“I’ve been lucky to be able to play in all the big tournaments this year so I would say I’m more comfortable playing against these guys than I was at the start of the year. I know I have the game to be among the best in the world,” he added.

The Indian believes he is close to rediscovering the form that led him to two wins on the Asian Tour and is capable of following the footsteps of Japan’s Hideki Matsuy-ama, who lifted the coveted Old Tom Morris Cup in 2016. Sharma won his first Asian Tour title at the Joburg Open in South Africa last December and went on to claim his second victory two months later in Malaysia.

“I had a few chances this year and I would like to draw on those experiences and play well. I had problems both in Mexico and Malaysia and they all came on the last day.

“I have a decent year so far and I just want to keep playing well and give my best shot,” he added.