By Paul Myers
Professional golf is a game that is contested on a global scale, by players from all-around the world. While the nation of India has not traditionally be represented by a large number of pro golfers, that may be about to change. One golfer from India who has quickly made a name for himself on the world stage is Anirban Lahiri.
Lahiri is just 27 years old, but has already moved into the top 40 in the world rankings. He has accumulated a total of 18 professional wins, including two on the European Tour. To this point he has appeared in just four major championships, but has already made two cuts, including a finish of T49 in the 2015 Masters. If Anirban Lahiri is able to continue his recent form, there are sure to be many more major championship appearances in his future.
Not a Bomber
When you think about young players making their mark in the biggest events in the world, you probably think about guys who can hit it 300 yards with ease. However, that is not how Mr. Anirban Lahiri goes about shooting great scores. He currently ranks just 138th in driving distance on the PGA Tour with an average of 283.9. Averaging over 280 yards off the tee is no small feat, but it certainly doesn’t stand out when compared to some of the big hitters that the game has to offer. He does hit a solid percentage of fairways off the tee, coming in at 62.99%.
So where is Lahiri making his money? Well, the wedges are a good place to start. For example, on approach shots from 50-75 yards, Lahiri ranks 4th on tour in proximity to the hole at just 7’1’’. If you aren’t going to hit it as far as the competition, it is important to be accurate with your wedges – and that is exactly what Lahiri is able to do. With that said, he is also rather accurate from long range. On approach shots from 225-250 yards, he ranks 8th with an impressive average over 41’2’’. Golf is all about getting the ball close to the hole, and Anirban Lahiri is able to do that by demonstrating incredible accuracy with both short and long clubs.
Solid on the Greens
As you would expect for any player on the pro tour, Lahiri is more than capable of handling himself on the putting greens. He has a current streak of 93 consecutive holes played without a three putt, which ranks 17th on Tour in that category. Also, on putts from 3’ and in this season, he is a perfect 109 for 109 You can’t afford to give away strokes when trying to compete with the best players in the world, so avoiding three putts and making all of your short putts is a great start.
It seems likely that there will be a lot more heard from Anirban Lahiri in the years to come. At just 27 years old, he already owns an impressive resume and experience on the world stage. With an accurate game and reliable putter, Lahiri is a player to watch throughout the rest of the 2015 season and beyond.