India’s highest ranked golfer promises to make 2015 a turning point for his game as he travels the world playing golf over the next nine months. Anirban Lahiri is relaxed, confident on the heels of his three wins last season and is on a high on playing the Masters come April. This is a big deal not just for the 27 year old professional but for the entire country that is looking forward to see him perform at the iconic tournament. The Masters, played every year in the first week of April at the Augusta Masters is a tournament started by the legendary Bobby Jones. The tournament is an official money event on the PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Japan Golf Tour. The field of players is smaller than those of the other major championships because it is an invitational event, held by the Augusta National Golf Club. (Read more in Golf)
For Lahiri this is prestigious and a big honour. Although he has earned his stripes by playing brilliant golf. Now it’s time to continue that game in full view of the massive American audience that truly makes the big market for the sport. Luckily Lahiri is confident and he is optimistic of earning his PGA Tour card this year itself given that the next five months will mostly be spent in America playing tournaments, given him ample opportunity to strengthen his position. “My last week has been great. I have had some time to spend at home and think about everything,”
Lahiri shares as the golfer spent time with his coach, family and friends to feel easy before a five month hectic journey. “I am going to be playing in Houston Open and that will begin my journey into the US. I am preparing my self better this time as I realise it took me 5 days to get my body in sync during the WGC.” For golfers America is the real goal, the big money and the mega tournament and attention. Naturally then it is going to be noteworthy for Lahiri to perform there. Ahead of the Masters, playing on US soil will better prepare him for the event, where Lahiri is only the third Indian to get through. “Houston Open will be set up a little like the Masters in terms green speed, the course layout, the speed, the grass cut as they try to make the conditions similar. I am looking forward to that. It’s been a whirlwind 2015 so far. I haven’t had time to cool off. It’s been nice being back home.”
For Lahiri this is a great moment to convert his sporting prowess into something that’s more impactful – which is promoting the game and being India’s ambassador to the world. So what does he want people to remember him as? “As the Indian boy who wants to make Indian golf more global. I want to project that. Its a great opportunity to do that by playing well. Nothing can be greater than my game and I contributing to a bigger cause,” he shares.
