Say hello to Anirban Lahiri, India’s Masters hopeful

Anirban Lahiri of India shown in December at the Thailand Golf Championship. The Asian Tour star will make his Masters debut this week at Augusta National. Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour / AFP

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri will fulfil a childhood dream when he makes his Masters debut this week at Augusta National, and the world No 34 is determined not to flounder in the golfing “temple”.

Advice

Lahiri, 27, forced his way into the year’s first major after a productive 12 months in Asia that yielded four titles, including two in European Tour co-sanctioned events. Lahiri has sought tips on Augusta from former Asia No 1s and compatriots Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh, and he knows keeping his nerves in check is the first pre-condition for an eye-catching week.

Focus

“It’s easy to get a little overwhelmed and overawed with the history and tradition of the event,” Lahiri said. “It’s a place of reverence, it’s like a holy place and you can get lost in the temple. For me, the three days before the first round will be very important. The faster I get comfortable, the more comfortable I will feel. I’ll spend as much time there on Monday and Tuesday and get over the big moment of being there. My first tee shot will be a huge one. After that first few shots, how I can focus will be very important.”

Motivation

He has been tipped as a potential major winner by former world No 1 Ernie Els, and Lahiri knows the kind of effect such a success would have on golf in India and across Asia. “If I can do well, it will be a big motivating factor. Even I didn’t think it was possible but it is possible. It was very much like when Arjun went to America and won, nobody thought it was possible and now, people will change their belief system. My goal is to try my best and do something like that ... make an impact not just in India but in Asia as well,” Lahiri said.

Asian growth

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who will make his fourth Masters appearance, said it was a matter of time before Asia has its second major title after 2009 PGA Championship winner YE Yang. “These days, I see golfers from Japan and Korea have been coming out strong and representing our continent on the world stage. A country like India is also doing well. But at the end of the day, it needs time,” he said.

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