Feb 7, 2017: Indian star Anirban Lahiri hopes the ‘feel-good’ factor will propel him to victory at the US$3 million Maybank Championship which starts on Thursday.
The 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is amongst the stars gathered at the renowned Saujana Golf and Country Club for the US$3 million showpiece sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
The 29-year-old Lahiri won a Maybank-title sponsored tournament in Malaysia two years ago en route to becoming the region’s number one. He also holds four other top-10s in other Asian Tour tournaments in the country.
However, his path to an eighth Asian Tour victory could be blocked by reigning Masters Tournament winner Danny Willett, who is the highest ranked player in this week’s elite field at 15th in the world, and another Major winner, Charl Schwartzel.
Like Lahiri, Willet, a five-time European Tour winner, also has a knack of producing some his best golf in Malaysia, with three top-10s here. As he is also the touring professional for Saujana, whose Palm course is nicknamed the ‘Cobra’, the Englishman will be eager to deliver a “home” victory at the Maybank Championship.
Following two wins last year, world number 26 Schwartzel, who won the Masters Tournament in 2011, will start as one of the contenders as he makes his first appearance at the Maybank Championship, which will also be his first tournament of the year.
Local hopes will be carried by Nicholas Fung, who emerged as the leading Malaysian on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking last season when he finished an impressive 12th, thanks to four top-10s including a runner-up finish in Manila. With his straight-shooting game, Fung is keen to conclude the on-going Chinese New Year celebration with a maiden Asian Tour victory at the Maybank Championship this weekend.
Interesting facts of the day:
- Willett is the highest ranked player in this week’s Maybank Championship at world number 15. He won the Masters Tournament in 2016, one of two wins last year and has five wins in his career.
- Willett finished tied 45th at the inaugural Maybank Championship at Royal Selangor last year. In other visits to Malaysia, he has finished tied fifth in 2014, tied third in 2012 and sixth in 2010.
- Willett was the world amateur number one in 2008. His father, Steve, a Church of England vicar, was described by Willett as being his best sports psychologist.
- Schwartzel will be making his first tournament appearance of 2017 and also making his debut at the Maybank Championship.
- His last two tournaments in 2016 saw him finish third and tied fourth at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai and Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
- Schwartzel won his lone Major to date at the Masters Tournament in 2011, becoming the third South African to win at Augusta National after Gary Player and Trevor Immelman.
- Schwartzel won twice in 2016 at the Tshwane Open in South Africa and Valspaar Championship in the United States. He has won one on the Asian Tour in the 2012 Thailand Golf Championship and has 15 professional victories in his career.
- Schwartzel has three top-10s in Malaysia in 2008, 2012 and 2013.
- Lahiri has a strong record in Malaysia, winning here in 2015 and posting top-10 finishes in tournaments in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
- Lahiri was the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner in 2015. He holds seven career wins in Asia. He will be making his first appearance at the Maybank Championship. In his last two tournament starts in 2017, Lahiri finished tied 25th and tied 19th at the Career Builder Challenge in the United States and Dubai Desert Classic respectively.
- Fung is coming off his career best finish on the Asian Tour following his 12th placing on the Order of Merit in 2016, thanks to four top-10s.
- Fung finished tied 24th in the Maybank Championship last year.
- He was the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner in 2013. He is seeking his first Asian Tour victory.
Asian Tour Release
