Resurgent Anirbaan Lahiri eyes title at Valero Texas Open with Masters in thoughts

Bolstered by a career-best runner-up end at THE PLAYERS Championship, a buoyant Anirban Lahiri will now tee up on the Valero Texas Open, eyeing a victory to earn a coveted place within the Masters Tournament.

Lahiri loved his finest end within the PGA Tour at THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass two weeks in the past and the Indian is decided to construct on his resurgence on the TPC San Antonio which hosts this week’s USD 8.6 million event beginning on Thursday.

“Who doesn’t think about the Masters? We all do,” stated Lahiri. “I understand I’m going to need a win, just like everyone else who are not already in Augusta will be hoping to do so.” The Masters Tournament, the yr’s first main, begins at Augusta National Golf Club subsequent week with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama defending his title. The winner in Texas, who is just not in any other case exempt, will obtain the ultimate spot within the Masters subject.

The Indian golfer has featured twice at Augusta National, ending T49 and T42 in 2015 and 2016 respectively and people have been the years when Lahiri felt he was enjoying a few of his finest golf.

The 34-year-old was again to his previous self a fortnight in the past when he led into the ultimate spherical at THE PLAYERS earlier than ending second to Australia’s Cameron Smith which noticed him earn a profession excessive USD 2.18 million.

“I’m looking forward to going back out. I’ve watched a lot of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (last week), a lot of friends battling it out and it makes me want to go out and play golf. I’m excited,” stated Lahiri.

“I’ve had a nice 10 days off at home but we had a few struggles. My little daughter picked up a little infection and we have all been fighting a bit of a cough and cold but we’re towards the end of it.” Interestingly, Lahiri’s return to kind was largely resulting from him including 3.5 grams of weight to his irons which has since resulted him in free-wheeling his manner across the golf course.

“Equipment clever, I’m all sorted and simply making an attempt to construct on it. Just the truth that I’ve what I must play nicely, and I can belief myself just a little extra, I can cease making an attempt tougher and form of let it occur identical to I did a few weeks in the past.

“In terms of the process of letting go and just playing, THE PLAYERS was an important week to me,” stated Lahiri, who’s at present ranked forty fifth on the FedExCup standings.

A return to the Valero Texas Open will even give him plenty of confidence as he completed fifth within the occasion final yr.

“I’ve good reminiscences from final yr as Valero was one in every of my standout occasions and I performed very well, actually constantly. It’s a tricky golf course particularly when it’s windy. It can get agency and quick and it’s one other course that you should drive it good.

“Strategically, you need to be very sound in how you navigate the golf course as there is a lot of trouble. I think that works to my advantage as strategically, I have a good game plan. It comes down to the execution and putting it in play.”