Anirban Lahiri leaps high with #MMO

Edited by Anand Datla

February 08, 2015: Anirban Lahiri’s victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur is a significant milestone in the narrative of the Indian golfer’s evolving story. In this feature, we highlight what the win means to Lahiri at an important stage of his career.

• This is a first for Anirban Lahiri. His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 39th European Tour event. Gains his largest European Tour prize of €439,796.

• Moves to 449,139 points in The Race to Dubai. Could move to just inside the top 40 of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 73rd. This could mean that Lahiri gains direct entry to the Augusta Masters later this summer.

• Graduated from the 2014 European Tour Qualifying School. Is the first Qualifying School graduate to win the year after graduation since Fabrizio Zanotti (2014 BMW International Open).

• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2017.
• This victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of tied sixth in the 2014 Championship at Laguna National.

• This victory beats his previous best 2015 European Tour performance of tied 50th in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

• Becomes the third first-time winner of the 2015 season. They are: Andy Sullivan (South African Open Championship Hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni), Gary Stal (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship) and Anirban Lahiri (Maybank Malaysian Open).

• Becomes the second Indian Qualifying School graduate to win on The European Tour the year after graduation, after Arjun Atwal at the 2002 Singapore Masters.

• Is in his rookie season on The European Tour. Is the first rookie to win on The European Tour since Brooks Koepka (2014 Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Youth and Sports).

• Is the first rookie and first Qualifying School graduate to win the year after graduation since Marco Crespi (2014 NH Collection Open).

• Victory comes in his sixth appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open.

• This victory beats his previous best performance in the Maybank Malaysian Open of tied tenth in 2014.

• Becomes the second Indian to win the Maybank Malaysian Open, following Arjun Atwal (2002 and 2008).

• Made up a five shots in the final round. Becomes the fourth winner this season to make up a final round deficit, following Danny Willett (one – Nedbank Golf Challenge), Andy Sullivan (seven – South African Open Championship Hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni) and Gary Stal (eight – Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship).

• Becomes the tenth Indian victory in European Tour history.

• Becomes the fourth different Indian to win on The European Tour, following Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and S S P Chowrasia.

• Becomes the first Indian winner on The European Tour since Jeev Milkha Singh at the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

• Becomes the 40th different Qualifying School graduate to win the year after graduation in European Tour history and is the 47th victory overall by a Qualifying School graduate the year after graduation.

• Is the 46th rookie overall to win in European Tour history.

• Gains his 14th win as a professional.

•  Gains a place in the 2015 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

Source: European Tour