Anirban Lahiri misses title but clinches spot for British Open

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri missed out on the title and the Asian Tour Order of Merit trophy, but earned a spot in the prestigious British Open after ending tied sixth with a card of one-over 73 in the final round of the USD one million Thailand Championship.

Lahiri, who needed to win or finish in top four to keep alive his hopes of the Order of Merit, ended sixth and that handed the OOM to David Lipsky, who himself ended 38th.

Lahiri started with a birdie on second, but the double on fourth followed by sixth, eighth and ninth besides birdies on fifth and seventh meant he turned in 38.

However, he four birdies in five holes between 11th and 15th to get back in the hunt despite a bogey on 14th. Then came the back-breaker on 16th, where he double bogeyed and put himself out of the race for the top-four, which would have kept alive his OOM chances.

Lahiri’s only consolation of the day was that he sealed his place at the 2015 British Open at St. Andrews with as he was one of the four players who are not otherwise exempt for the world’s oldest Major next year.

It will be Lahiri’s third appearance at the Open, after having played it in 2012 and 2014.

“I’m obviously very disappointed with how I played on Sunday. There were lot of positives out there for me and I was struggling on my game on Sunday,” Lahiri said. “At least for my consolation I earned a spot at The Open next year. That would put some balm on my wounds. I’ve had a great year and I have a lot to look forward to,” he added.

England’s Lee Westwood staged a brilliant final round fight back with a five-under 67 to win the USD one million Asian Tour event.