Macau, 26-10-2014

Anirban Lahiri wins Venetian Macau Open with a gallant 66 on final day

Shiv Kapur also finishes inside top-10

Anirban Lahiri of India picked up his second title of the year after posting a gallant five-under-66 in the final round of the Venetian Macau Open on Sunday. Lahiri totaled 17-under-267 for the week as he signed off with scores of 61, 73, 67 and 66. It was Anirban's 16th career title and his fifth on the Asian Tour. Australian Scott Hend, the defending champion, who was tied for the lead with Lahiri with one hole to play, bogeyed the 18th and ended up in joint second at 16-under-268 along with Prom Meesawat of Thailand. 

Shiv Kapur (73-67-67-67) claimed eighth place at 10-under-274 after a third successive 67 to finish as the second Indian inside the top-10. Jyoti Randhawa secured tied 15th place at six-under-278. Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 26th at three-under-281 while SSP Chowrasia was a further shot back in tied 32nd.

Anirban Lahiri, who ended day three in second position, two off the lead, came up with four birdies against a lone bogey on the front-nine to stay two behind the leader Scott Hend. Lahiri's birdies on the 14th and 15th helped him take the sole lead for the first time. Hend made it all square with a birdie on the 16th. The two golfers made pars on the 17th to be at level terms with one hole to play. Anirban, however, held his nerve and clinched the title with a par on the 18th even as Scott dropped a bogey.

Hend, who arrived in Macau in top form after winning the Hong Kong Open last week, saw his four-feet par putt lip out on the final hole. Hend settled for a 69 while Prom charged up the leaderboard with a 66.

“It's really special. Hendy was playing great golf and it was sad to see him missing that putt on the last,” said Lahiri.

He added, “I knew he was playing some good golf and I told myself that I was going to keep coming back, keep coming back and keep attacking. I wanted to make him think I was not going to go away. I think I played really well.”

“I hit a perfect golf shot on 14,” said Lahiri. “I had just missed a putt at the previous hole and I knew I needed a birdie to catch Hendy and that was just magic the way it came down. I hit a seven iron as hard and high as I could and it came out perfect. It was one of the best shots of the week. 

He went on to add, “I was chasing all day and on 14, that's where the momentum switched a bit. It's fantastic to win my second of the year. I missed the cut last week (in Hong Kong) after a long time so I had time to think about what I was doing wrong and how was I was not thinking positively on the course. I'm happy I managed to turn that around.”

The winner's cheque of US$162,000 raised Anirban's season's tally to US$ 504,689 as he consolidated his second place on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and narrowed the gap on leader David Lipsky of the United States.

Lahiri became the second Indian to win the Venetian Macau Open after Gaganjeet Bhullar. Bhullar had won the event in 2012. Interestingly, Anirban had finished runner-up to Hend at the 2013 Venetian Macau Open.

Lahiri, currently ranked no. 90 in the Official World Golf Rankings, now stands to make significant gains in the updated world rankings which will be released on Monday. The Bangalore-based professional had achieved his career-best ranking of 64 soon after his win in Indonesia earlier this year.

Lahiri's win on Sunday was the 62nd international win by an Indian. It was also the third title triumph by an Indian in the 2014 Asian Tour season after Rashid Khan's win at the SAIL-SBI Open and Anirban's victory at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.

Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “Hearty congratulations to Anirban for his second win of the year. Anirban's gritty performances on the world stage and his never-say-die attitude serve as an inspiration to many young Indian players who are on the threshold of making the transition to the international level. We wish Anirban all success for the future.”