Report by Anand Datla
August 12, Kohler, Wisconsin:
Tuesday games at the majors are mostly about fun and charity. Golfers rub shoulder, rib each other and have a good time on the course as they prepare for the real test that starts on Thursday. But they are also the day when traditional competitions are held. The Long Drive competition at the PGA Championship was played off the second tee today and Anirban Lahiri trumped a stellar field of golfers to claim the winner’s prize.
Lahiri shot an impressive 327 yards on a narrow fairway that many elegant golfers found hard to find. As one after another fell into the rough, it was Davis Love III who took the early lead with a 305 yard drive.
“The drive from Lahiri easily bounced past the flag indicating J.B. Holmes’ lead at the time of 315 yards, rolled to the left edge of the fairway and came to a stop 327 yards from the tee,” reported the PGA.
Two time major winner this season, Jordan Spieth shot 313 yards, but he ended up marginally short of JB Holmes and Jimmy Walker, who both shot 314 yards.
Starting his practice round midway through the morning, Lahiri found a near perfect drive at the second hole to surpass the field with a mighty 327 yard effort. The only other golfer who came close enough to the Indian was Matt Dobyns, who traveled 323 yards.
Speaking with the Golfing Indian, “Not a big deal,” said Lahiri. “it is a good souvenir to take home though. I just found a good shot off the tee and it is always nice to win something.”
The Indian won a gold money clip like the one Jack Nicklaus won for winning the Long Drive Competition in 1963 and still uses, as well as a $25,000 donation to a charity of his choosing.
2015 PGA Championship Long Drive Competition Top-10 Final Leaderboard:
1. Anirban Lahiri – 327 yards
2. Matt Dobyns – 323
3. J.B. Holmes – 314
4. Jimmy Walker – 314
5. Jordan Spieth – 313
6. Keegan Bradley – 310
7. Charles Frost (CP) – 309
8. Justin Rose – 307
9. Davis Love III – 305
10. Danny Lee – 303
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