Few European Tour first-timers possess as much experience as this particular rookie, with five-time Asian Tour winner and World Number 64 Anirban Lahiri preparing for a maiden campaign as part of The Race to Dubai in 2015, having successfully navigated the Qualifying School in November.
Think of a rookie and your mind no doubt conjures images of wet behind the ears nippers and fresh faced green horns but, as this particular Indian prepares to make the move west, that could not be further from the truth.
Lahiri might only just be preparing for a first full season of European Tour action, but he has already amassed a season’s worth of experience over the past six years, teeing it up in 31 events since 2009 during a spell in which he has also had plenty of success in his home region.
The 27 year old joined the Asian Tour in 2008, but it would be three years before he was sipping the sweet nectar of success, taking the title in extra holes on home soil at the inaugural Panasonic Open.
With his taste buds still tingling from that initial triumph, the man from Bangalore did not have to wait long for his second piece of silverware, which followed a little under a year later – and once again in India – at the SAIL-SBI Open.
Roll forward 12 months and Lahiri would successfully defend his title at Delhi Golf Club, to begin a run that has since seen him claim his first victories outside his homeland, claiming the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters earlier in 2014, before a second success followed just a few weeks before his successful turn at the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort.
While his triumph at the Venetian Macau Open saw him contending for top honours on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2014, he also managed to carry that good form into the six round marathon in north east Spain, eventually finishing nine under par to claim the 17th card on offer.
It was not all plain sailing on a tense final day in Girona, at the end of which his European Tour status was by no means assured, but Lahiri made his experience count to card two birdies in his final five holes at the end of an exhausting run of events.
“I had to really sweat it on the back nine, as I hadn’t played very good the previous two days, and my body had started complaining because it was my sixth week in a row,” said Lahiri, who was introduced to the game by his father, who worked as a doctor in the army.
“It was tough, but I’m glad I got through in the end, as at one point I was seven under through 13 holes and the cut mark was eight. I didn’t birdie any of the par fives coming in, which made life difficult, but I’m glad I played well in the end. I was very pleased with my effort the final five holes and it was good to play well when it counted.
“When I fell outside the mark I didn’t feel too much, as it is like when you are playing a tournament and in contention down the stretch, one or two off the lead. You have a number in your head, so it is like playing with a club house leader, and you’re trying to catch them when you fall behind. I’ve been in that position plenty of times, but saying that, you can’t come through every time so it is nice to pull it off when you do.”
Conscious of not forgetting his roots, Lahiri plans to play across both the Tours he is eligible for in 2015, as he attempts to establish himself as a truly global force.
In doing so, he hopes to one day ply his trade globally including on the US PGA Tour, but in the meantime remains focused on this latest challenge aboard The Race to Dubai as he attempts to crack the top 50 in the world for the first time in his career.
“I have status on two Tours (this season) so I will need to plan out my schedule, which is sure to be very busy, so I need to figure that out,” said the 11 time winner on the Indian Tour.
“I’m very keen to play on both Tours, but it will help that there will be at least seven co-sanctioned events (with the Asian Tour), and it will be good that they will count on both sides, but I will have to split my time and prioritise.
“It is absolutely a step forward in my career as I have been looking forward to moving westward.
“The week in Spain was a grind, and I was there for 12 days, and it was a long way to go from Shanghai straight off the back of a WGC, which was very different, but I’m glad I got through it.
“I have been playing well this year and got my World Ranking down, but if I can push hard and get a win or two and get to that top 50 spot, then I can start to get invites into the Majors and WGCs, and the rest will take care of itself.
“You are playing for more World Ranking Points on The European Tour and there are more events too, but you still have to play really good, as the level of competition here is a little bit higher. I enjoy that, thrive on it, as I enjoy a good challenge, and I look forward to coming back and playing more next year.”
