Hong Kong: India’s Anirban Lahiri is itching to get back into action at this week’s US$1.3 million Hong Kong Open after a sensational season defined by one win and five top-10s including three runner-up finishes.
After notching his third victory on the region’s premier Tour on home soil in March, the 26-year-old Indian has been on a rampant charge, seeking to win his first title outside India.
Lahiri has come close on numerous occasions in Thailand, Malaysia, Macau and most recently in Indonesia where he finished tied-sixth last week.
A win at the Hong Kong Golf Club would cap a fantastic season which has already given Lahiri much success.
“It has been a great year and I can’t ask for more. I’m happy that I’ve played consistently throughout the year. Ideally I would like to win once more and I’m glad I still have that opportunity to do that this week,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri also believes the immaculate conditions at the Hong Kong Golf Club where Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event is staged will provide him with the added motivation to excel.
“I’ve been here about four times and this golf course is looking to be in its best shape. It’s always nice to play on such a beautiful golf course like this,” said Lahiri.
“The greens are really quick and obviously this is all part of the set-up but keeping the ball below the hole is going to be key and as always, you’ve got to keep it on the fairways and putt well,” added the Indian.
Like the rest of the players from the Asian Tour, Lahiri is also eyeing a spot in the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM when it tees off in Malaysia next March.
A strong showing at the Hong Kong Open will ease his way into the inaugural event which Lahiri has dubbed the ‘Ryder Cup of Asia’.
“You want to get into the history books as a member of the inaugural EurAsia Cup. It’s a very prestigious event and you can compare it to the Ryder Cup of Asia. I’m really looking forward to it and hoping to qualify. As of now, I’ve a good chance and I just need to play solid coming in,” said Lahiri, who is fifth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Team Asia will include the leading four available Asian players from the final 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the leading three available Asian players invited on the basis of their Official World Golf Ranking, the playing captain and two captain’s picks.
Lahiri is among the nine Indians who will tee off at the Hong Kong Open which is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.
The storied championship is the third event of The 2014 Race to Dubai, and one of the last on the 2013 Asian Tour schedule.
Lahiri will have the company of his fellow compatriots who all have a stellar record to boast.
They include two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh, eight-time Asian Tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, who was also Asia’s number one in 2002 and Gaganjeet Bhullar, who won his fifth Asian Tour title in Indonesia last week.
