Anirban Lahiri climbs to career-best 101 in World Rankings

New Delhi: Anirban Lahiri’s tied third place finish at the King’s Cup on Sunday lifted him to his career-best world ranking of 101. The 26-year-old, who was placed 109 in the world rankings till last week, is now knocking on the doors of the top-100. Lahiri had earlier closed the year 2013 at World No. 111.

Lahiri, currently the highest ranked Indian in the world, had an outstanding 2013 season on the Asian Tour as he posted a win at the SAIL-SBI Open besides three runner-up finishes and four other top-10s. His consistent performances in Asia helped him end the season in third place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$ 517,030, behind Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand and Australian Scott Hend. This was yet another career-best achievement for Lahiri, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

Anirban, as a result of finishing in the top-4 in Asia, has now sealed a place on the Asian team for the inaugural EurAsia Cup scheduled to be held in Malaysia in March. Sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour, the EurAsia Cup will pit ten of the finest golfers from Asia against the ten best players of Europe over three days of matchplay golf. The Asian team is being led by legendary Thai golfer Thongchai Jaidee.

The final Asian Tour Order of Merit for 2013 saw two more Indians, Gaganjeet Bhullar placed fifth and Shiv Kapur placed 10th, make it to the top-10. Bhullar and Kapur currently occupy 141st and 143rd positions respectively in the world rankings.

PGTI member Md Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh was ranked fourth on the Asian Tour.

The six other Indians who finished in the top-60 in Asia and retained their cards for the 2014 Asian Tour season were SSP Chowrasia (16th), Jyoti Randhawa (17th), Rahil Gangjee (29th), Rashid Khan (41st), Chiragh Kumar (52nd) and Himmat Singh Rai (53rd).

PGTI member Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka too retained his Asian Tour card having secured 28th place on the Order of Merit.