MillenniumPost
Sports

Lahiri aiming to do well at global stage

Anirban Lahiri, Asia's No. 1 player currently, will feature in his fourth successive and fifth Major overall when he tees up at the US Open at Chambers Bay here tomorrow.

Lahiri said: "It is now time to put into action all that I have prepared for."

Lahiri, who is playing his fourth Major in a row, added, "It is now time to do well and a make a mark at this level."

While doing well at Majors is the big goal for Lahiri, he also nurses the dream of winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which has in the past been won by only three Indians - Jyoti Randhawa (2002), Arjun Atwal (2003) and Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 and 2008).

Last year Lahiri finished second on the Order of Merit, behind David Lipsky. This year Lahiri has opened up a lead of over USD 400,000 with wins in Malaysia and India.

While Lahiri has two wins this year in <g data-gr-id="33">co-sanctioned</g> event, Thongchai Jaidee, has had two runner-up finishes in Thailand and England this season. Jaidee has two wins on European soil ? in Wales (2012) and in Sweden (2014). He has been paired with South Africa's Brenden Grace and American Brendon Todd.

Lahiri, world No. 45, who won twice in three weeks at the start of the season, is part of a strong Asian challenge, which includes World No 33 Thongchai Jaidee, fellow Indian and close friend, Kapur, Australia's Cameron Smith, 2014 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, China's Liang Wen-<g data-gr-id="37">chong</g>, Australia's Marcus Fraser and Japan's Masahiro Kawamura. Also in the field is honorary member Ernie Els.

Lahiri will tee up with two-time CIMB Classic winner, Ryan Moore and American Erik Compton, who was second at the US Open last year.

Shiv Kapur, who earned his ticket to the US Open through the sectional qualifiers in England, will open his campaign with Americans Denny McCarthy and DA Points.

There will be a lot of focus on Jordan <g data-gr-id="34">SPieth</g>, winner of the Masters this year and Rory McIlroy, who won the US Open in 2011. McIlroy won two Majors in 2014 and he was tied eighth at Masters and T-23 at PGA.

Next Story
Share it