Debutant Lahiri registers hole-in-one in British Open, says best golfing moment of his career

Playing his maiden Major, Anirban Lahiri has already 'lived the moment'. Long hailed as one of the most promising golfers in India, Lahiri became the first Indian to register a hole-in-one in a Major championship, says a report in The Times Of India. He did it in the third round of the British Open, on the par-3 165-yard ninth hole at the Royal Lytham & St Annes with a nine-iron that landed on the right edge of the green before rolling into the cup, only to spark wild celebrations by fellow pros and spectators.

"It's the best golfing moment I ever had. Never thought it could happen. It was simply fantastic. The ace is probably the icing on the cake. It wasn't easy to play that hole but I had played it yesterday. A similar yardage just helped my case," an elated Lahiri told TOI from Lancashire after ending the day at even par 210 with a bogey on the final hole halting his upward surge on the leaderboard. "The bogey could have been avoided but I am not thinking much about it. I played into the fairway bunker so that did make things a bit difficult," he added.

Meanwhile The Hindu reports that India's Anirban Lahiri recorded a hole-in-one at the par-three ninth hole in the British Open third round on Saturday when he struck a nine-iron 150 yards into the cup to spark wild celebrations. The world No. 226, making his Open debut and partnering American Ted Potter Jr., notched the first ace of the 141st championship at the furthest point of the course away from the clubhouse to excite the Lytham galleries.

A grinning Lahiri raised both hands in the air and gave a bow after the rare shot. There is no prize for a hole in one here, just the honour on the next tee.

Meanwhile, Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott were holding firm in the lead in the third round as a talent-packed array of international talent tried to reel them in.