LIV Golf star Anirban Lahiri is keen to end a long winless run and is hoping for success at the International Series India presented bt DLF in Gurgaon next week. Image courtesy International Series.
By Rahul Banerji
Anirban Lahiri, now a seasoned hand on the many overseas circuits, says next week’s International Series India presented by DLF should become a regular fixture for the Asian Tour.
“It’s fitting that The International Series presented by DLF comes to India. I would love for it to be an annual fixture, because it deserves that recognition and it’s a synergetic event for everything that the two entities, the country and the Asian Tour, have done together so, I’m very pleased.
“We wanted The International Series to be in India for a while now and big thanks to DLF for making it happen.
“Hopefully this becomes a regular International Series fixture and one of the highlight tournaments in India. Definitely in the subcontinent, it will be the biggest event,” a statement from the organisers quoted him as having said.
Lahiri is among a number of stars competing at Gurgaon’s DLF Golf and Country Club and the seven-time Asian Tour winner will join LIV Golf team Crushers GC mates, reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, and the prolific Paul Casey.
The 36-year-old is a familiar presence on The International Series having participated in numerous tournaments since its inception in 2022 and last year he had two top-20 finishes in the three tournaments entered: a T5 at International Series Qatar and a T17 at International Series England.
Lahiri, who has competed in numerous tournaments throughout his home country, believes that the Asian Tour has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many of India’s golfing greats over the years.
Key stage
“I think India has been such an integral part of the Asian Tour. I go back to my origins as a pro golfer for many, many years plying the trade in Asia and a lot of my friends and colleagues, seniors, even the legends, the Jeev Milkha Singhs, the SSPs, are all products of the Asian Tour.
“Also, Indian golf has this deep, deep connection and there’s long history, and obviously there’s a lot of gratitude for the platform from a lot of the Indian players.”
Lahiri had four top 10 finishes in 2024 on the LIV Golf League at Andalucia (runner-up to Sergio Garcia), and a T6 at Chicago, Houston and Jeddah but is hoping for more consistency as the 2025 season gets going the week after Gurgaon.
“I think I would hold myself to my own standards of consistency,” he said. “Wasn’t very consistent last year. I would want to play at a higher level overall throughout the year. I only got into contention realistically two or three times.
“Want that to be a higher percentage, and just generally I felt like my level of golf plateaued a little bit.
“I’m completely focused in taking it back up a couple of notches and definitely that first win is a monkey that I need to get off my back.
“So, yes, the eyes are on that prize and again, like every year, and as long as I’ll ever be a professional golfer trying to get to the majors and play well in those.”
Also read: Lahiri, Bhullar to lead home challenge at International Series India
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