A sense of calmness which has been a major asset in making Anirban Lahiri rise through the ranks seems to be returning once more after a 'hectic' and 'turbulent' fortnight.
Loss of personal belongings, including an old booklet with his US Visa while travelling through Paris was followed by a call-up from British Open forcing him to cut short his already delayed honeymoon in Madagascar. Then began the mad rush for airline bookings and accommodations for two Majors – British Open and PGA Championships — and making arrangements for a fresh visa to US. All that had taken his focus away from golf.
"There was just too much happening off the course," said Lahiri, with the calm smile that seems to back in its place. "You must ask people around me, how edgy and anxious I was."
He was almost at peace after 18 holes on Sunday and then 16 holes on Monday with the likes of Ian Poulter and Chris Rodgers. "It was good to just play a little golf and understand the layout. Remember I have not played Links course since 2012 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes."
"I am going to put in a few more holes next two days also and have been speaking to a lot of people on the course," he said.
It was different 10 days ago, when Lahiri landed in Madagascar, the world's fourth largest Island off the coast of Southeast Africa. He was looking to a quiet break with wife, Ipsa, to whom he got married in late May. He was hoping to try diving and watch some of the most beautiful corals when they arrived in Madagascar for a delayed honeymoon.
Two days into the holiday, he was disturbed by a phone call late in the night, informing him that he was 'in' for the British Open. Lahiri had earned a starting place at Royal Liverpool as one of 10 non-exempt players from the Official World Golf Ranking last week.
Just before arriving in Madagascar, Lahiri had his backpack stolen in Paris, while returning from Munich where he played the BMW International. "Luckily my wife and my wife's latest passport booklets were in my pocket. So I could actually travel elsewhere," he said.
"Once the British Open call came, things became hectic. I thought the qualifying cut-off was over sometime in May and I assumed I didn't have a chance, so I scheduled some time off with my wife. But then 'this' – a berth into the British Open – happened. Thereafter I was just trying to get out of Madagascar, getting my visas and tickets and accommodation in place. Luckily my wife took the sudden change in plans sportingly as she knows the life of a pro golfer can be unpredictable," he said.
What about preparations for the Open? "With so many non-golfing things going on, my coach (Vijay Divecha) has told me to just try and focus on the game. He said, nothing is wrong with my game, I am just getting edgy and anxious of other things that are happening," he said.
Two years ago, when Lahiri made his debut at Royal Lytham and St Annes, he stunned everyone with a hole-in-one. He finally finished tied 31st.
And finally, how has Lahiri, a four-time winner on Asian Tour, going to make up with his wife for the truncated honeymoon? "She has been awesome and so supportive. I have promised to take her back to the same place in Madagascar."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}