NEW DELHI: Anirban Lahiri’s tie for fifth at the PGA Championship on Sunday has not only raised hopes of India producing a first major winner, it promises to fuel the aspirations of a whole generation golfers in this cricket-crazed country of over 1.2 billion.
The 28-year-old shot a final-round 68 for a 13-under 275 to produce best ever finish by an Indian at a major, surpassing Jeev Milkha Singh’s joint-ninth at the 2008 PGA.
The Indian golf fraternity is anticipating a major boost from Lahiri’s performance, building on the efforts of Jeev, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal who have helped the game gain recognition in India.
Lahiri’s coach, Vijay Divecha, says Lahiri’s strong finish at Whistling Straits has long been expected and will undoubtedly be “big for Indian golf.”
“We knew we were on the threshold,” Divecha told The Associated Press. “Being in the mix is the first step and then it’s knowing how to convert your chances at such big events.”
Dubai-based Indian golf writer Joy Chakravarty says performing well in high profile tournaments does much to boost golf in India.
“This performance gives immense belief to the juniors and other professionals in the country, many of whom are as talented as Anirban, that they too can achieve something like this,” Chakravarty told AP. “It will just heighten the aspiration levels, which is always good for the sport.”
Divecha says he can already see the difference at the grassroots level after Lahiri’s consistent efforts on the international circuit.
“It’s huge for Indians to see his name out there on the leaderboard. It tells young and aspiring players what they can do,” he said. “A lot of players call me up and say they want to talk to Anirban, discuss golf with him.
“His performances have not only instilled confidence in the younger lot, many parents now want their children to take up golf as a profession. This includes players whose parents are not golfers, which did not happen earlier,” Divecha said.
India has close to 200 golf courses, but most of them are restricted by exclusive memberships that make access difficult for aspiring players.
“Things are changing with some clubs taking on non-members for their training schemes, but opportunities are still limited. The facilities need to be more widespread and accessible to expect golf to become a bigger sport in India,” Divecha said.
Lahiri has won four times on the Asian Tour, including two events co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han says he’s confident Lahiri can emulate South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun, the only Asian to win a major.
“I believe Anirban will achieve more success internationally and he has the right credentials to lift a major title in the very near future,” he said in a statement. “He has the ability, the right work ethics and self-confidence to achieve this dream.”
Jeev, India’s most successful golfer with three European Tour titles, four on the Japan Golf Tour and six on the Asian Tour, also has high hopes for a major win by Lahiri and a boost for golf in the country.
“This performance will also be a massive boost to other Indian players,” Jeev said. “What Anirban has done should be the launching pad for many such success stories from our country. I wish Anirban all the best in the future and hope he will soon be hoisting a major trophy on a Sunday evening.”
Lahiri’s tie for fifth at PGA expected to boost Indian golf
Lahiri’s tie for fifth at PGA expected to boost Indian golf
Ashes batters run for cover on manic day one in Melbourne
- Twenty wickets fall on chaotic day one
- Tailender Neser top-scores for Australia with 35
MELBOURNE: Australia finished marginally on top at the end of a chaotic opening day of the fourth Ashes test after an extraordinary 20 wickets fell in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Australia nightwatchman Scott Boland was four not out with Travis Head yet to score as the hosts went to stumps at four for no loss in their second innings, carrying a 46-run lead over England.
With England bowled out for 110 in reply to Australia’s first innings 152, it was the highest number of wickets in a single day at the MCG since a record 25 fell in the 1902 Ashes.
Josh Tongue took a career-best 5-45 to skittle Australia on the grassy pitch after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field in the traditional Boxing Day test.
But the tourists’ batters then suffered a more egregious collapse.
The batting carnage unfolded in front of a crowd of 94,199, eclipsing the stadium’s previous record of 93,013 for a day of cricket at the 2015 World Cup final.
England, who have already lost the series after three straight defeats, came into the match under a cloud following reports that some players had taken a “stag party” attitude to a trip to Noosa between the second and third tests.
But they would have been well pleased with their work in the field early on, rattling through Australia in 45.2 overs to bring tea early.
The alarm bells were soon ringing, however, as their top order collapsed before they were bowled out in 29.5 overs.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan labelled the pitch a “shocker” but Australia seamer Michael Neser, who led his team’s bowling with 4-45 and batting with 35, had no complaints.
“We know it can move real fast day one and two, and then once that wicket hardens up and dries out, it can be quite nice to bat on,” he told reporters.
Miserable series
Neser’s knock was 33 runs better than England opener Ben Duckett, who was caught for two with a loose drive at Mitchell Starc, continuing his miserable series.
New number three Jacob Bethell, the replacement for the dropped Ollie Pope, managed only one before Neser had him caught behind, while opener Zak Crawley edged Starc to Steve Smith in the slips to be out for five.
Root was then out for a 15-ball duck, his second of the series, nicking Neser behind.
Harry Brook and Stokes dug in for a 50-run partnership to trim the deficit to 86 runs but England were then blown out of the water by a triple-strike from Boland.
The pacer took 3-11 as he trapped Brook lbw for 41, bowled Jamie Smith through the gate for two and had all-rounder Will Jacks caught behind for five.
Stokes was unable to rescue England, falling for 16 with an edge off Neser to Smith at first slip.
Gus Atkinson and Tongue’s 10th-wicket stand of 19 runs appeared heroic after what had gone on before. But it was all over when Cameron Green bowled Atkinson for 28, just in time for England’s bowlers to get one wicketless over in before stumps.
Australia’s Jhye Richardson, named for his first test since the last home Ashes in 2021/22, was the only one of the hosts’ four pacers not cashing in.
Tongue bowled Smith through the gate for nine among his five wickets and has dismissed the master batter in every first-class match against him, including both times at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes.
He also removed opener Jake Weatherald (10) and number three Marnus Labuschagne (six) as Australia lost their four top-order wickets for 51 runs.
“Bowling them out for 150-odd, I thought we did an amazing job as a bowling unit,” said Tongue.
“They’ve bowled well as well. It’s obviously a pitch that’s doing quite a bit.”
