He shone in afternoon conditions where scoring became even more difficult.
Sharma, who had just one bogey against four birdies, finished in near darkness and was in one of the last three groups to finish the day. With the pace of play also being a bit slow, Sharma needed over five hours and 15 minutes for the round.
Sharma, who hopes to make the cut on Friday, aged 27, said: “Birthday time may come later. As far as golf goes, yes, really happy. We have made good preparations before this event, and even before this week when I was here three weeks ago.
“It was good to watch the course, to have three rounds early before the event started. Really happy that all my hard work kind of paid off. There is still a long way to go in the event.
“But I played really solid. Very proud of the way I played. I was rarely out of position today, I was able to do some pars as well. And yes, a solid round.”
Earlier in the day, 22-year-old South African amateur Christo Lamprecht, who took part in the final Major of the year winning the (British) Amateur Championships at nearby Hillside Golf. Southport club, established the club lead at 5 and under 66 and he was joined by Tommy Fleetwood, 32, from Southport.
As conditions grew more difficult in the second half of the day, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo finished with five birdies on his back nine and finished the day birdie-birdie including a sensational 18 to join the co-leaders within 5.
Three others, Antoine Rozner, who booked his place in the qualifying final, were tied for third alongside Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and American Brian Harman at 4 and under 67.
Sharma, who made the cut in his two previous starts at the Open and completed an identical T-51, added: “I will delay the birthday celebrations even though my mother, my sister, my father and my trainer are here.
“There’s work to be done and the second round will be a normal day of golf, only it’s a Major that I love.”
(AI image)
Besides four birdies, he made some excellent par saves.
“Two good saves – the 10, yes, and the 16, those two. The 10 was good. I was trying to shoot the 3 wood, which didn’t really shoot, so it went straight slightly into the rough.
“I had a really long second shot to a par-4, which was brilliant on the green. That second shot was the star of this hole.
“The 16th was brilliant again. Left, had about 80 yards from the hole in the wind, hit a good sand wedge, threw it over the hole, brought it back about eight, ten feet and made the putt. So yeah, happy.”
