India’s top-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri is all set to become only the third Indian to tee off at the Augusta Masters, when the curtain goes up on Thursday.
The 27-year-old World No. 34 and the current leader on Asian Tour standings, Lahiri has won seven Asian Tour titles, including two events co-sanctioned with the European Tour. He has risen dramatically from No. 64 at the end of December 2014 and come to the elite zone of Top-50 where he could play all Majors and WGC events besides a few other ticket events that could catapult him and Indian golf into a different zone.
Saying he feels no burden of expectations that he is representing a country as big as India, Lahiri calls it a motivating factor. “No, I don’t think the expectations of Indian fans and golf followers is a burden. I mean, it’s a choice that I have to make. I can either be energized and motivated by it or I can choose to say, you know people expect me to do this or that, and let that get on top of me. But I know, the thing is, when you actually meet these people, and I’m saying this because I felt it, when you meet them and you talk to them, and you listen to what they have to say and how they feel, it’s fantastic. They are so proud. And how can that make me feel bad? How is that possible?”
Meanwhile, Lahiri has also been trying to gain from the experiences of past champions like three-time Masters-winner Nick Faldo, now a world-renowned commentator, and Vijay Singh, another former World No. 1 and winner of Masters in 2000. He also earlier spoke to Jeev Milkha Singh, the first Indian to play at the Masters in 2007 and who played three times in a row till 2009.
Lahiri revealed, “I did pick Jeev’s brains. He’s been here three times. We’ve had a couple of discussions earlier when we were playing in events where he was playing, as well….a lot of good advice…even Arjun who has played here before.”
“I had a chance to catch up with Sir Nick Faldo this morning, and he’s one of the greats who has been really well out here. I had about a 15/20?minute chat?? well, I didn’t have a chat. He had a chat with me; I was listening. I also had a chance to play nine holes on the back nine yesterday with Vijay Singh, he’s a past champion as well.”
Lahiri comes to Augusta on the strength of his twin successes in Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open, which took him to World No. 34 and opened the doors to the Majors and best events in the world.
