Ahead of this week’s Hero Indian Open, europeantour.com shines a light on first-time winner Anirban Lahiri, who will tee it up at Delhi Golf Club fresh off a maiden title a fortnight ago in Malaysia.
Cast your mind back three months, and those experts amongst you will recall a particular Bangalore native – ranked a heady 74th on the Official World Golf Ranking at the time – preparing to take on the six round endurance test that is the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort.
Few players will have ever entered the November marathon with a greater pedigree, and Lahiri proved his credentials en route to the 17th card on offer, a foundation upon which he would build a maiden European Tour triumph just a few months hence.
His narrow one stroke victory two weeks ago at Kuala Lumpar Country Club – thanks to rounds of 62 and 68 over the weekend – therefore propelled the Indian to heady new heights, seeing him crack the top 50 in the world for the first time, and moving to within touching distance of compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh’s record as the top ranked Indian golfer in history.
“I was taking lots of deep breaths,” said the World Number 39, of his final round in Malaysia, as he nears Singh’s record of 27th on the global list. “I was just trying to keep my heart rate in check. I’ve played enough being in contention to know that if I can control my heart rate, it’s easier to hit golf shots, so I do a lot of deep breathing and closing my eyes.
“You just try to observe what’s going on, what you are feeling, without judging yourself or thinking about an outcome. That obviously helps because it allows you to do instead of think.
“I sat at home for two weeks knowing that the desert events are really good events played on great golf courses with lots of world ranking points. I sat there thinking I should be out there competing.
“I think that put the fire in me and I just wanted to come out and take my opportunity. I said whatever I get I’m going to take, because I don’t want to be in this situation again. That was my attitude – just go out there and do whatever you have to.”
As homecomings go, this week should therefore be a real celebration of Lahiri’s achievements so far, but he will be there to do the business too.
The 27 year old has in fact won Asian Tour titles at Delhi Golf Club in three of the last four years, taking top spot at the 2011 Panasonic Open, as well as consecutive victories at the SAIL-SBI Open the following two seasons.
Put those victories alongside a further two in Asia, and his triumph of a fortnight ago, and this nine-time Professional Golf Tour of India winner is likely to be one of the men to beat this week on the tight and tricky layout.
"This is the event you want to win as an Indian, as it is a tournament which is steeped in history,” said Lahiri. “Delhi Golf Club has such a fantastic history to it, and it is definitely one of those events where you want to play and win it.”
