Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri leaps to career-high 37th in rankings

Anirban Lahiri with the Malaysian Open title

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS)

Indian Anirban Lahiri moved to a career-high 37th place in the World Golf Rankings following his triumph at the Malaysian Open on Sunday. The breakthrough win on the European Tour helped the 27-year-old Lahiri jump 36 places in the rankings, according to a release. Lahiri's 37th position in World Rankings is the second-best ever by an Indian after Jeev Milkha Singh, who was in the Top-30 in March 2009. While this is the first week in Top-50 for Lahiri, Jeev spent a total of 66 weeks at different times in Top-50.

The Bengaluru golfer, who will be one of the biggest draws at the Hero Indian Open from February 19-22, is looking forward to adding the national open to his kitty.

He said, "Winning big events is always a goal, and for us Indian golfers, winning the Hero Indian Open means a lot because it is our National Open. In the last few years, I have come close to it, and was tied second last time around, so I would like to set that record straight."

Lahiri has already qualified for the British Open following his result in Thailand Golf Championships late last year and on current form, he should also get into PGA Championships. If he stays inside Top-50 till the week before the Masters, he will also get an invite for the year's first Major and a Top-50 should also get him into the US Open.

"It is always the goal of a professional golfer to play as many Majors as possible and World Golf Championships for that's where the world's best are. I feel I can do well at any level and my game is progressing well."