Anirban Lahiri disappointed at CIMB

Report by Anand Datla

November 2, 2014: The course at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club remained an unresolved mystery for a fighting Anirban Lahiri. The Indian was hoping to bolster his position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit this week. But he will return a disappointed man after finishing outside the top 50 at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Lahiri (74-72-70-73) just could not discover the kind of form that earned him the Macau Open title, ending his tournament at one over 289. The title race was farther ahead, with Kevin Na, Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland battled for victory at 15-under through 12 holes. Sergio Garcia was lying a couple of shots back, desperately trying to force his way to the front.

Lahiri, who managed to break par only once this week, looked set to finish at one under for the day. But a double bogey at the par-4 17th hole left him two back instead. Earlier in the round, an aggressive Lahiri, looking for ways to finish higher up the order started with a birdie at the first hole.

The 27 year old suffered a bogey six at the third hole, but repaired the damage with a birdie at the next par-5 hole, the fifth. However, hopes came crumbling down for Anirban just before he made the turn. Lahiri suffered a double bogey at the par-4 ninth hole, needing 37 shots to reach the back nine.

A bogey at the 12th hole dropped Lahiri to two over for the day. The top ranked Indian drew even with the course making consecutive birdies on the next two holes, but he had more misery waiting for him down the stretch.

Lahiri sank another double bogey at the 17th to once again surrender a two shot edge to the course. A birdie at the final hole was far from consolation, as Lahiri signed on a card reading 73 to end his tournament outside the top 50. At the time of publishing this report, Lahiri was tied in 52nd.

The leader on the Order of Merit list, David Lipsky also did not fare too well this week. The American was lying in 73rd, just one better than the precocious Chinese teenager Guan Tian Lang, the only amateur in the field.