April always starts on a great note for golf as the entire fraternity looks to The Masters at Augusta National. It's extra special for us as Anirban Lahiri heads there to be only the third Indian to play this traditional and historic tournament in the sport.

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And now with the weekend announcement from Tiger Woods that he too will play, the buzz and the spotlight has only gone up further. Founded by Bobby Jones, this course was originally a plant nursery (which explains the bountiful spring flowers that it adorns in this time of the year) it opened for play in 1933. Tiger has won here four times although this year, there are few betting on his game as he slipped below the top 100 a week ago.

For Lahiri, the 27 year Indian who has won three big tournament in the last six months, The Masters is a great opportunity to show off his game, and his potential. I have been speaking with Lahiri even as he has already begun practice at the course, that has been described as a 'dangerous zone' by nine time major champion Gary Player.

Lahiri, who missed the cut at last week's Houston Open, believes he takes a few days to get into the swing of the courses in the US. His second round finish of 69 there may not have rewarded him the weekend rounds but he did gain valuable lessons from the course, that is believed to be somewhat laid out on the lines of The Masters.

Lahiri says he isn't under pressure to perform as it is his first time on American courses but he hopes to earn his PGA Card so he can make a name in the United States, considered the biggest golfing nation in the world.

His main task is to make the 36 hole cut and then he can really learn a great deal more about his game," says Shane O Donoghue, golf expert and well known sport anchor, "and how it stands up to the biggest of tests. If he can make it to the weekend, he will have achieved a great deal for a rookie.

Lahiri wants to be the face of Indian golf in the west. "As the Indian boy who wants to make Indian golf more global. I want to project that. Its a great opportunity to do that by playing well. Nothing can be greater than my game and I contributing to a bigger cause."

The experience at Augusta is going to be special. "I am just excited about the whole experience from walking down the Magnolia Lane, the famous tree lined approach, to the club, the course, and very curious about the mystery about the Masters. It's been the game's best kept secret and is the most coveted tournament in the life of a golfer."

For Indians this is as big as it gets for Indian golf. Last year it was Shiv Kapur's stellar T23 finish at the US Open. Few had thought in a year we would have a contender at the sport's biggest tournament. Here's wishing Lahiri the best and a slot over the weekend to display his in-form golf.