Anirban Lahiri happy with consistency after 2nd-place finish in Indian Open golf

After making his third runner-up finish this season at the Hero Indian Open here on Sunday, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri said he was happy with his "consistency" but would want to end the year with a win and target an European Tour card and world top 100 next season.

"It was a mixed bag year for me. This is my third second place finish and I am happy with my consistency. I was hoping to do well in joint-sanctioned events and get to the European Tour. But I could not do that, so that is one of the aims next year," Anirban said.

"I did well in Asian Tour events. I won once and was second a few times. I would have liked to win the Order of Merit, but that would be pretty difficult now and I would have to win every event from here and that is unlikely. But I would want to make the year a great one by winning a title. I also want to break into the top 100," he added.

Anirban could manage a two-under 70 in the final round today to finish just one stroke away from winner Mohammad Siddikur with a total of 13-under 275.

"It was a lot like yesterday (third round) -- lot of good golf shots followed by lot of careless shots. I think I had a lot of birdies but I dropped a lot of shots too. Like two doubles yesterday. Today, I dropped three. On the back, I was one-over over the last eight holes. My caddie was telling it has never happened to me on back nine on last day," he said.

However, Anirban said he was happy with his overall record.

"I am very proud of my Hero Indian Open record. I was third some time back and last year I was fifth and now second. On the Asian Tour, I have won once and this is my third second place this year.

"I have been putting myself in contention and giving myself a chance. So, I must be doing something right. The DGC is like St Andrews of Indian golf. All the history is here."

Talking about his forthcoming tournaments, Anirban said, "Me and Gaganjeet will be playing in the World Cup of Golf and it means a world for us. Two years ago we were in a chance to qualify but we missed out and I had nightmares for 3-4 months. It is a great opportunity for us."

On the new face of Indian and Asian golf, he said, "Gaganjeet and I have done well. And on the Asian Tour, there are the likes of Angelo Que, Pariya and some others who have done well. In India we looked up to Jeev, Jyoti and Arjun and in Asia, there is Thaworn, Thongchai and some others as Asian legends. It is good to beat them consistently now."

SSP Chowrasia, who missed out of a birdie putt at the last hole to finish joint runner-up, rued that he was not consistent.

"I was not consistent on the final day. I was not playing good, I had made a lot of small mistakes. I had problems reading the lines. But the last three days I have putted well. I needed have a four-feet putt for the 18th hole but it did not happen. May be next time," he said.

"It was like on-off, on-off. My birdies and bogeys were alternating and I ended with an even par. Then that last putt, which was four foot, maybe five or six. I just read the line wrong and missed out. Still, that's the way golf goes.

"On the other days I had been putting well, but today that touch was missing. I made a couple of errors like on 13th and 15th, but again on a final day not everything can be controlled."

On being runner-up at the Indian Open for the third time, he said, "Of course, I want to win the Hero Indian Open. I have been second three times in last 14 years (1999, 2006 and 2013). Whenever I think about it, I feel something big is going to happen."

Asked about this season, Chowrasia said, "The season did not go well. I lost my European card. I am focussing on Asian Tour and to play joint sanctioned events, and challenger tour. I will be leaving for Philippines today."