New Delhi, 18-08-2015
Anirban Lahiri climbs to seventh in International Team Standings for Presidents Cup, moves up to eighth in European Tour Race to Dubai
Jeev Milkha Singh showers praise on Lahiri for breaking his seven-year-old record
Anirban Lahiri’s phenomenal top-5 finish at the PGA Championship last week not only propelled him from 53 to 38 in the world rankings but also facilitated his rise in the International Team Standings for the Presidents Cup as well as the European Tour Race to Dubai.
Lahiri has now almost sealed a spot for himself in the Presidents Cup as he moved up from ninth to seventh in the International Team Standings taking his points tally from 2.44 to 2.77. The top 10 players in the standings are confirmed a place on the team for the biennial event against the United States of America which will take place in Incheon, Korea from October 8 to 11 this year. If Anirban does go on to play the event, he will be the first Indian to do so.
Australian Jason Day, the PGA Championship winner, currently leads the International Team Standings with a points tally of 9.40. The official announcement of the teams will be done in September this year.
The 28-year-old Lahiri also made progress in the European Tour Race to Dubai jumping from ninth to eighth position. In his debut season on the European Tour, Lahiri has already amassed earnings of over 1.4 million Euros. Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, the world no. 2, leads the pack in Europe with earnings of over 3 million Euros in his kitty.
Anirban’s prize money earnings of US$ 367,500 from the PGA Championship, however, are not added to his earnings on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Nonetheless, he remains the top favourite to win the Order of Merit crown in Asia this year, another first for him, as he leads the money list by a huge margin of over US$ 500,000. His earnings stand at US$ 925,484 while second-placed Andrew Dodt of Australia has earned US$ 377,136 so far this year.
Meanwhile, Jeev Milkha Singh, whose seven-year-old record of the best finish by an Indian at a Major (tied ninth at PGA Championship 2008), was broken by Lahiri on Sunday, showered praise on the latter.
Jeev said, “Anirban’s performance at the PGA Championship is a matter of immense joy and pride for me personally, and for the entire country. I would first like to congratulate him on what was a stupendous achievement. I thought he was just outstanding in how he handled the unique pressures of a Major championship, and I am sure this is just the start of an incredible journey for him.
“Anirban’s finish betters mine recorded in 2008, and I am delighted that it has been broken. This shows progress for Indian golf, and that makes me happier. This performance will also be a massive boost to other Indian players. What Anirban has done should be the launching pad for many such success stories from India,” he added.
Besides achieving the best Indian finish at a Major, here are the other notable accomplishments of Lahiri post his tied fifth finish at the PGA Championship:
• Anirban has now made the cut at three out of four Majors with the US Open being the only exception. Among Indians, only Jeev surpasses this feat having made the cut at all four Majors
• Anirban (2015) and Jeev (2007) are now the only two Indians to have played all four Majors in the same calendar year
• Anirban, however, is now the first Indian to make the cut in three Majors in the same calendar year (US Masters, British Open & PGA Championship in 2015)
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
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