06-04-2015
ANIRBAN LAHIRI SET TO LIVE CHILDHOOD DREAM WITH MAIDEN MASTERS APPEARANCE
India’s Anirban Lahiri will live his childhood dream when he tees it up at the US Masters this week.
The current Asian Tour number one will have the distinction of becoming only the third Indian golfer after Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal to make an appearance at the revered Augusta National Golf Club. Lahiri, who achieved his career-best world ranking of 33 last week, knows the significance of the moment.
“I’m very excited obviously as it’s something every player wants to do. You want to compete, contend and eventually win. These are things that dreams are made of. It’s going to be a very special thing when I tee up at Augusta National,” said Lahiri, one of only four Indians to have made the cut at a Major.
“Growing up, you want to play in all the Majors but the Masters and The Open are the two that are of special significance - one due to its history and the other because of its exclusivity and mysticism.
“The Open is a true open and anybody can qualify. The Masters is the other end of the spectrum where you have to be the best of the best with its steeped criteria to have the opportunity to play. These are the two Majors that have great significance and I’m glad that when I tee up in Augusta, I would have accomplished the first part of my dream which is to play and the second part, hopefully is to do well and win a Major in my career.”
The 27-year-old has been in the form of his life over the last one year, having won four tournaments including two on the European Tour.
After breaking into the world’s top-50 which earned him a place at the Masters, Anirban, who is currently ranked 34th, knows that a good outing at Augusta will leave a long-lasting effect in his native India and across Asia.
“It’s important that I play well,” added the Bangalore lad, who was recently tipped by South African great Ernie Els as being a potential Major winner.
“If I can put up a special performance that would make a huge difference. Playing in the Masters is quite difficult – you’ve got be top-50 in the world or win a PGA Tour event, or be in the top-10 of the Race to Dubai. To have someone qualify while playing primarily on the Asian Tour and co-sanctioned events, it’s a big boost for someone who has the same dreams that I have.
“If I can do well, it will be a big motivating factor. Even I didn’t think it was possible but it is possible. It was very much like when Arjun went to America and won, nobody thought it was possible and now, people will change their belief system.
“My goal is to try my best and do something like that and make an impact not just in India but in Asia as well. That's what inspires people back home.”
Lahiri will look back at his maiden appearance at The Open in 2012, where he finished tied 31st, as a motivating factor in his Masters quest. That is till date the best result by an Indian in his debut Major appearance. He has sought the advice of Atwal, Jeev and Daniel Chopra about the intricacies of playing at Augusta National as part of his preparation.
“It’s easy to get a little overwhelmed and overawed with the history and tradition of the event. It’s a place of reverence, it’s like a holy place and you can get lost in the temple,” he said.
“For me, the three days before the first round will be very important. I will spend as much time and absorb everything and get used to it. The faster I get comfortable, the more comfortable I will feel. I’ll spend as much time there on Monday and Tuesday and get over the big moment of being there. My first tee shot will be a huge one. After that first few shots, how I can focus will be very important.”
Lahiri knows the importance of chalking out a good game-plan, especially in context of the treacherous greens at Augusta National. “Everybody that I’ve spoken to says it is better to have an uphill 25-footer than five-footer from the wrong side,” said the articulate golfer.
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