High flying Lahiri embracing Q-School test

<strong>By Will Pearson, europeantour.com<br />
at PGA Catalunya Resort</strong>

It might be surprising to hear that this year’s Qualifying School Final Stage features a player ranked well inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, yet that is the case, as high flying Indian star Anirban Lahiri attempts to seize a European Tour card this week at PGA Catalunya Resort.

Ranked a heady 74th in the world, the Bangalore native currently lies second in the Asian Tour Order of Merit after two victories in 2014 – the most recent of which came just three weeks ago at the Venetian Macau Open – but contends this week in northern Spain seeking full playing privileges in The 2015 Race to Dubai.

And Lahiri could not have asked for much better a start to that bid at the Girona venue, as a flawless five under par 65 on Saturday propelled the Indian to just one shot off the lead with 90 holes still to come in the marathon test.

Three birdies in his first four holes on the shorter Tour course had Lahiri racing out of the blocks, and while he could not quite continue that red-hot start, two further gains at the par five 18th and seventh left the 27 year old well positioned and firmly on course for the top 25 finish that would yield a season on the top-rung of European golf.

“I played pretty good, solid from the start,” said Lahiri, who found the putting surface 17 times in regulation in what was a tee-to-green masterclass in round one. “I began well but didn’t quite manage to keep the pace up but I’m happy. I think I struck the ball really well so I’ll be looking to do the same over the next five days.

“The wind picked up on the back nine but they were fantastic conditions today with the sun out and not a cloud in the sky so that is much more than we could ask for!

“It was a solid round. I hit almost all the greens and kept the ball in play and now I’m really looking forward to playing the Stadium Course tomorrow. It’s a really good golf course and I enjoy playing tracks like that so hoping for a good four or five days now.”

Lahiri finished inside the top 15 four times in his nine starts on The European Tour in the 2014 season, including a tied sixth finish at The Championship at Laguna National in Singapore, and came into the week as one of the favourites for success in the six-round examination.

Endowed with steadfast belief in the quality of his game, though, the promising young Indian has lofty aspirations for a bright golfing future – starting this week in Catalunya.

“It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time and a decision I had to make a few months ago,” he continued. “Obviously having played well in Asia I now want to kick on and play on the higher Tours in Europe and in America.

“The second half of the year in Asia we have a very busy schedule and I am missing events back there so I think that shows how committed I am to being here and getting my European Tour card.

“But I feel really good about my game. I’ve played consistently all year including the starts I did have on The European Tour but it’s now all about getting the job done this week so hopefully I can do that.”

“It doesn’t really add any pressure coming in as the highest ranked guy or a favourite,” Lahiri added. “I’m happy that I have managed to rack up quite a few points this year with a couple of wins and a number of good finishes but when you come into an event like this you know there is a lot to play for, there is a lot at stake, so for me it’s about enjoying my golf over the next few days. Obviously I feel I can play well enough to win this week but at the end of the day, I have to get it done.”