Indian paired with former World No. 1 Lee Westwood and flamboyant Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez at first major of the season
The dream is about to turn into reality for Anirban Lahiri. The 27-year-old Indian is all set to take the next step in his journey to the very top echelons of world golf. Lahiri has been given a dream pairing for the first two days of the Augusta Masters as he tees up in the familiar company of former World No. 1 Lee Westwood and the flamboyant Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.
After years of imagining he was putting an eight-footer for the Masters on the practice greens in Secunderabad and Bangalore, Lahiri will now actually be teeing up and playing at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Lahiri has gone through the paces — played and chatted with former champions (Vijay Singh and Nick Faldo), played with a current PGA Tour (Patrick Reed) and been around the course two times over the last three days. "The preparation has been great. I have come here in a great frame of mind. I was hitting the ball well at Houston, though I didn't score as well. I found the greens alright and I like the feel of this course. Sure, we have seen it so many times on TV and this is my first time, but I am comfortable," said Lahiri, whose sense of familiarity has been bolstered by the presence of wife Ipsa.
"In short, I am in a happy space and am waiting for the action to start," Lahiri said after playing his second set of nine holes with Reed. "I will now hit a few balls, chip and putt and then it will be par-3 and a bit more loosening up and then it will be time for action. As I have mentioned before the course looks different on TV, where one cannot make out how hilly it is. At the same time, the fairways are not as narrow as they seem on TV. But come Thursday, it will all boil down to putting to test all that I have worked on."
On his rise and recent success, he added, "To be honest I knew I was close to a breakthrough. It was a matter of time and I must say it came soon and I am happy to re-work my schedules and use the opportunity to play all the big events – Majors and WGC. That's what all professionals aspire for – to play at the biggest events and alongside the best in the sport."
While Lahiri has been paired with Westwood and Jimenez, the other Asian star, Thongchai Jaidee, who is playing his fourth Masters, will play alongside Fred Couples and South African Branden Grace.
Tiger Woods, who has been looking very sharp at the practice sessions, including driving, chipping and putting, has made a big departure from his usual pre-tournament routine. For the first time since 2004, he will feature in the pre-event par-3 contest. In the past, no winner of par-3 has won the Masters the same year.
Woods, who is usually not seen on Wednesdays at Masters, is going to be at the Par-3 course, with his kids, Sam, 7, and Charlie, 6, as his caddies. He will also be accompanied by his partner, champion skier Lindsey Vonn.
Coincidences galore for Lahiri
Anirban Lahiri was paired with Lee Westwood on the final day of the Malaysian Open, which he went on to win for his maiden victory in a co-sanctioned event. Interestingly, he overhauled Austrian Bernd Weisberger, who led the Indian by five shots after 54 holes. Weisberger, who has been paired with Lahiri for the par-3 contest, was second, while Westwood ended fifth. Two weeks later, Lahiri played his first two rounds with Miguel Angel Jimenez, and then went on to win his second co-sanctioned title in three weeks, which set him on the road to the Masters.
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