Watch: Anirban Lahiri @ St Andrews

The Open this year is at the historic St Andrews in Scotland, traditionally called the home of golf. Not surprisingly then this course given golfers the goose bumps when they play on land that was formerly a public walking park. Since 1860, The Open has been played over some of the world’s best courses and has produced great champions. It is the oldest championship in professional golf and the Claret Jug – first presented in 1873 – is one of the most revered for trophies. For Hero Ambassador Anirban Lahiri, the only Indian in the field, playing here is extraordinary. Now among the top 50 best players of the world, Lahiri is going in with special confidence and a solid game.

Q. You are headed to the historic Open at St Andrews. What’s on your mind? It’s going to be your debut at the ‘home of golf’?

A. I am very excited about that. I have never been to St Andrews or played there before. For me its going to be a brand new experience and so being at St Andrews, getting the opportunity to play that historic course at the Open itself is quite exhilarating. As a kid I have always wanted to play at St Andrews and to be making my debut at St Andrews with the Open is phenomenal. This year is very special just in terms of having the opportunity to play my first event at August and St Andrews within a few months is special.

Q. How is it like playing ‘links-golf’ courses?

Ans. A 110 yard shot could be a ball that’s played a 110 yards, it could be played 80 yards, it could even be played 50 yards and there are even you know instances where you could use a putter from 50-60 yards out. You have to be a lot more creative and have enough arsenal that you should be able to play with confidence. Just in terms of what Links golf expects from you in terms of creativity and imagination than Parkland golf. And I think that’s a big difference (between playing in Scotland and else where). And having played two Open championships, and then I was at Royal Country Downs the other day, which is another links course. It really helps to get to know these and the more you hit, the better it gets for your game.

Q. For some winning is everything. How do you set your goals?

A. I think setting numerical targets is very limiting. You play every event to win, to be in contention and trying to be play your best. But having said that, I think for me it all boils down to trying to find my best or if I am not playing my best then to finding a rhythm that gives me confidence going into the next week, the next tournament. Golf is a funny game – you could be playing at your best and you may not be scoring very well or not be putting very well or a particular department of your game might not be upto the standard. And then there are other weeks when you may not be playing your best or hitting it really well and yet you may be scoring well and everything seems to come together and you win a tournament. All it boils down for me is that its getting all the positives from the tournament trying to build as much momentum as you can. Even bad weeks, you have to look at the things you did well. You work on those departments in which you were weak. I have always looked at it that way. I don’t think about whether or not I finished in the top 20 or top 30 or whatever it is. That for me is not a real picture of how you are playing.