Source: Asian Tour
January 25, 2014: The 10th successful season of the Asian Tour saw rise of many Asian golfers to the world standards of competitive golf. Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar kept Indian flag high as they emerged among top five players in the region.
Anirban Lahiri began his successful run by defending his SAIL-SBI Open title at the Delhi Golf Club by he defeated young gun Rashid Khan on the first play-off hole. The victory ignited a fine run for Lahiri who ended the year with three other runner-up results and four other top-10s as he finished in a career high third position on the Order of Merit.
“This is probably my most consistent year. My game has become much sharper than it was. Maturity will come I guess. Six years on Tour, the experience should be there, so hopefully I draw on it and win a few more events,” said Lahiri.
After a runner-up finish at the Avantha Masters early in the season, Gaganjeet Bhullar suffered a dip in form, including a last-place finish at the World Cup. But the 25-year-old showed his growing maturity by winning in the following week’s Indonesia Open, leading impressively from start to finish, to claim a fifth Asian Tour title.
“I haven’t had much success this season but I know my game was up there and winning is just a matter of time. I waited so long for my fifth win and this is my 10th consecutive event. Mentally, I was exhausted but Indonesia is one of my favourite countries as I won my first title on the Asian Tour here,” said Bhullar.
Shiv Kapur played 15 tournaments in 2013, finished his season at 10th in the Order of Merit.
During a year where the region’s premier Tour celebrated its milestone 10th season, it also marked the ascension to number one for burly Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat who was crowned the new Order of Merit champion after an emphatic season with one title and five top-five finishes.
