Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 01-11-2015

Creditable tied 21st finish for Anirban Lahiri at CIMB Classic, Indian closes in on Asian Tour Order of Merit crown

Picture Courtesy: Asian Tour

India’s Anirban Lahiri (70-67-67-70) has closed in on his first Asian Tour Order of Merit crown following his creditable tied 21st finish at the US$7 million CIMB Classic on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Lahiri extended his lead in the money list over second-ranked Scott Hend of Australia to US$647,453 at the conclusion of the PGA Tour and Asian Tour joint sanctioned event at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

“We'll see. Funnier things have happened,” said Lahiri, who earned another US$78,400 after his final round of two-under-70 took his tournament total to 14-under-274.

“I'm obviously really thrilled with the way I've played all year. I played pretty consistently. So, hopefully, if things do go my way, it will be fantastic to win the Order of Merit. It's been something that I wanted to do, it's been something that has eluded me.

“When the time comes, if that does happen, it will be a very special moment for me,” added Lahiri, who has amassed US$1.13 million on the Asian Tour this season.

With six events remaining, the second and third ranked Aussie duo of Scott Hend and Andrew Dodt would need to win almost all remaining tournaments to have a chance of surpassing the Indian star.

Three Indians, Jyoti Randhawa (2002), Arjun Atwal (2003) and Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 & 2008), have won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in the past.

Lahiri, who played in his first Presidents Cup three weeks ago and is now ranked 37th in the world, was disappointed he didn’t put a better showing at the West course where he had won the Malaysian Open earlier this season.

“I didn't get any momentum,” said Lahiri. “Having said that, it's not a bad week. It's a decent week, but definitely not what I had hoped for. I didn't hit my irons very good this week. I think that has been my strength over the last few weeks but this week my iron play wasn't very good.”

SSP Chawrasia (72-74-74-71), the other Indian in the field in Malaysia, finished 73rd with a three-over-291 total. Chawrasia currently occupies fourth place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.