Special Report by Anand Datla
It appears there is not much that Anirban Lahiri can do wrong these days. Since December, when he was just four holes away from failing at a qualifying event in Spain, Lahiri’s fortune has taken a 360 degree turn that is hard to fathom, let alone explain. His glorious run continued unabated when he came back from a seven shot deficit to clinch victory at the Hero Indian Open 2015. (Latest Golf News)
Having secured his Asian Tour card, with two birdies in the final four holes of a six round qualifying event in Spain, Lahiri upped the ante considerably. Only a fortnight ago, he won the Maybank Malaysian Open to ensure his presence around the European Tour.
Lahiri started the week by collecting the Best Golfer Award for 2014 at the India Golf Awards in Delhi. And things got progressively better for him after an insipid first round at the Indian Open.
Even then, at the start of the final round, it was hard to imagine that Lahiri might even be in contention. SSP Chawrasia was playing with great confidence, building and sustaining a lead from the second round. In fact, the main battle was supposed to be between Chawrasia and Siddikur Rahman.
As it turned out, Chawrasia was bleeding shots faster than the medics could patch him. By the 7th hole, he had leaked four shots. Meanwhile, despite the difficult playing conditions and the harder pins, Lahiri had gained a couple to narrow the gap.
By the time Lahiri reached the ninth pin, he was greeted by the sight of a leaderboard that showed he was within touching distance of the lead. The game had suddenly changed on its head.
“I believed that I was playing for third, at the start of the final round,” admitted Lahiri. “Chawrasia was playing so well and was so far ahead.” Not anymore by the time the final groups had made the turn for the last time this week.
The back nine was a dogged battle between the golfers, the course and a furious wind. Yet again, it was Lahiri who was acquitting himself better. Briefly Marcus Fraser joined the party too, before slipping back with a double at the 13th hole.
Lahiri made birdie at the 16th hole to pile the pressure on the group behind them and needing to assert himself, Chawrasia suffered an untimely bogey after swinging into the thick bushes.
At the 17th, Lahiri played what was perhaps the most pivotal shot of the week. After sliding to the right of the green, he noticed that his ball was perched precariously supported by a little leaf and a loose twig.
With hardly any room for his club, Lahiri’s second was just not enough to get on the green. But then the top ranked Indian got up and down with a little pitch, he will not forget in a hurry.
Chawrasia had one last chance at the 18th. His tee shot had bounced off a tree and fell into the first cut, suggesting perhaps his luck was about to turn. Needing to make birdie from about 20 feet, Chawrasia fell marginally short and never quite recovered.
The playoff was nearly a foregone conclusion soon as Chawrasia pulled his tee shot into the thick foliage. Meanwhile, Lahiri was a picture of confidence as he set up a fine birdie playing right down the middle of the fairway to complete a memorable victory.
