India’s rising star Anirban Lahiri is ready to return on the winning trail after enjoying a remarkable Malaysian swing.
The talented 26-year-old finished tied 10th at the star-studded Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday and he was also part of Team Asia, where he contributed two points, to tie with Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup here last month.
Lahiri won three of his Asian Tour titles on home soil and his results in recent weeks have given him added motivation to win his first title outside of his comfort zone.
“It has been a while since I’ve been playing well. I feel like I’m playing well enough to win. I just need to be patient and relaxed. I can’t get too far ahead of myself. That’s what I’ve learnt from last week,” said Lahiri.
The Indian enjoyed a fine run at the Maybank Malaysian Open after ending the event on eight-under-par 280, thanks largely to a superb performance during the weekend after even-par rounds in the opening two days.
“All in all it was a solid week but I can’t help but feel that I left a lot out there. I’ve been hitting it really good. I hit 16 greens but didn’t make the putts which I needed to. I gave myself a lot of opportunities but couldn’t hole the birdies,” he explained.
“I was a little anxious to do well (at the start of last week). I was feeling good about my game. I really wanted to contend badly. I tried a bit too hard and forced the issue. I didn’t focus on what I needed to do. It got better on the weekend and it is good that I’m playing consistently,” Lahiri added.
His result at the Maybank Malaysian Open, which was won by Lee Westwood of England, earned him a cool US$50,966 which propelled him to fourth on the Order of Merit.
“It is important to get off to a good start on the Order of Merit. I didn’t win the SAIL-SBI Open this year,” laughed Lahiri. “I need to get up on the rankings as fast as I can. It was a good week to move up and I’m glad I played well over the last two days.”
Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, a two-time Asian Tour winner, enjoyed a tied fifth finish in the Maybank Malaysian Open. The result was worth US$98,450 which subsequently moved him to the top of the Order of Merit with earnings of US$119,450.
New Asian Tour winners Richard T. Lee (US$86,633) of Canada and Rashid Khan (US$59,637) of India, who both made the weekend rounds at the Maybank Malaysian Open, are ranked second and third respectively on the Order of Merit.
Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, who won his first title on the Asian Tour last year, is placed fifth on the Order of Merit on US$54,111 while Carlos Pigem of Spain, playing in his second year on the region’s premier Tour, lies in sixth position on US$47,830.
This week, the Asian Tour travels to the US$750,000 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters which will be played at the highly rated Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Asian Tour Order of Merit – Top-20
Pos Player Earnings (US$)
1 Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) $119,450
2 Richard T. LEE (CAN) $86,633
3 Rashid KHAN (IND)$59,637
4 Anirban LAHIRI (IND) $57,150
5 Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $54,111
6 Carlos PIGEM (ESP) $47,830
7 Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) $45,091
8 Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) $42,100
9 Jbe KRUGER (RSA) $40,535
9 Jason KNUTZON (USA) $40,535
11 Steve LEWTON (ENG) $35,830
12 S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND) $34,826
13 Scott HEND (AUS) $32,633
13 Wade ORMSBY (AUS) $32,633
15 Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $32,561
16 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) $30,337
17 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) $27,775
18 Andrew DODT (AUS) $27,274
19 Bryce EASTON (RSA) $24,419
20 Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) $24,114
