07-09-2017
Anirban Lahiri to appear at his second Presidents Cup, named as Captain's pick for International Team
Anirban Lahiri will make his second appearance at the Presidents Cup later this month after International Team Captain Nick Price named the Indian as his captain’s selection on Thursday.
Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour number one, will look for redemption when he represents Team International at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, from September 28 to October 1, 2017.
He made his debut in the Presidents Cup in 2015 and was left heartbroken when his birdie putt from three-feet lipped out on the 18thhole which would have earned his International Team a half point. The United States eventually claimed a 15.5 to 14.5 victory.
“Yeah, it’s been two years waiting. Obviously I’ve been wanting to get back on the team ever since that day in Korea,” said the 30-year-old Lahiri.
Anirban, who led the two-man Indian team at the Rio Olympics 2016, added, “I felt like I let the team down, and I feel like I need to go back out there and contribute to the winning cause. I feel like in the last two years, I’ve kind of grown as a player. I’ve definitely learned a lot, after having moved here, played here, and I feel like I’m ready to go back out there and make a positive difference to the team.
“I know personally what to expect. Because you have to experience it before you go out there. So when you get to that first tee, it’s not a Thursday morning. It’s like the back nine on a Sunday when you’re in contention right from the first tee shot on Thursday. That’s the difference in the attitude that you have to have, and that’s what I have learnt as well from my past experiences,” added Lahiri.
International Team Captain Nick Price, a Zimbabwean, said Lahiri will play a pivotal role in the International Team.
“Anirban, he brings an awful lot to the team. His camaraderie and spirit at the last Presidents Cup was something that we all took notice of. He was wonderful in the team room and very enthusiastic, and he’s got a great heart. Honestly, it didn’t take us long to make the second decision, and probably one of the shortest conference calls I’ve ever been on in my life,” said Price.
Lahiri began his 2016-17 campaign on the PGA Tour with a tied third finish at the CIMB Classic and later claimed his career-best finish on the PGA Tour with a tied second result at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.
In his second appearance in the FedExCup Playoffs, Anirban has advanced to the BMW Championship as the last man in at No. 70 in the standings post his tied 56th finish at last week’s Dell Technologies Championship.
SOURCE: ASIAN TOUR
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