Anirban Lahiri Sees Augusta Masters as a Great Chance for Himself and Indian Golf

Anirban Lahiri has aroused the interest and curiosity of almost the entire golfing world.

Hailing from the world's second most populous nation and coming with a record of four wins in 12 months, two of them in co-sanctioned events, his rise to World No. 34, had led to questions about golf in India, his own growth chart and of course what his performance could mean for the game back home.

The 27-year-old, who has had to change his schedule and travel plans by winning the lucrative Malaysian and Indian Open had handled all this spotlight very well with separate media meeting at the WGC-Cadillac, Shell Houston Open and now the Masters.

Playing his fourth Major but the first Masters - he has played at the British Open and PGA earlier on - Lahiri admits, "It's obviously been one of those things that I have wanted to do, to be here ideally inside the ropes, where I find myself this year."

"I think this is obviously one of those events that growing up as a kid, anyone who is playing golf or has watched golf, followed golf, associates the sport with and associates history with, and I am no different. So it's a very exciting time in my career for me, great opportunities and really excited to be here."

Getting into Augusta, soon after missing the cut at Houston, where he shot his first round in the 60s but still failed to make the cut, Lahiri, wasted no time in coming to the fabled course and getting a first-hand experience of it.

After playing 27 holes over Sunday and Monday, he gave his first impressions of Augusta National Golf Club.

"I think the first thing that hits you is how different it is from what you see on television, because that's where I've seen Augusta. I've never been here. So some of those tee shots, standing on the tee, and I had my caddie with me; hey, this is more than five yards wide. It sometimes looks not even five yards wide when you look at it on television, like standing on the 18th tee, for instance.

"The first thing that hit me is how different it is to actually play, how different it is to actually be hitting those shots rather than watching those shots. It's quite different obviously. It's quite amazing and it's a great feeling."

Still gushing about the Masters and his earliest memories of the event, he added, "Well, I'm 27, so I'm very much a part of the Tiger era. Obviously that was the Masters for me, the year he came out and destroyed everyone else and the golf course, if I may say so. That was just-- that was outstanding."

"And for me as a kid watching it, among other millions of kids, that was massive. I have watched Jeev, who has played here three times, who has got off to good starts in the past and I think had a good finish (in the 20s). He's even led the event for a bit, I think, on Thursday through nine holes or something like that."

"The four majors are obviously a very special place, and I've said this before, among them, it's always the Masters and The Open Championship that stand out, simply because of the tradition, the history and all the great champions."

"As a kid growing up, it was always, you know, when you are eight, nine, ten and you're having fun with your buddies, the sun is going down and you're on the putting green and you're like, let's have a nine-hole match before we go home and the scores are tied; and the three of us are like, okay, last putt, 8-footer, this is to win the Masters, or this is to win The Open. That's what it means to be out there."

Lahiri is also mindful of the impact a good performance from him could have on Indian golf. His series of wins and rise in rankings has led to a surge in media interest.

Talking of the impact he could have on Indian golf, he said, "Absolutely. I definitely believe that (it will have a positive impact), and I think that helps me to work that little bit harder and try that little bit more, and just-- it gives me a lot of positivity, because a lot of people that I meet, even out there today just playing the practice round, there are quite a few ex-Patriots here in the United States, a lot of them Indians. A lot of them have been here a long time and feel very strongly for India. I can even feel that out here, a lot of them coming up saying, we are rooting for you and have fun, represent your country and be proud. It's fantastic. It gives me so much energy. I definitely want to do well for myself, but I want to do well more for everyone else and for golf, what it might do back home.  So I have a lot to play for."

Did he pick brains of former champions or players who have been here? He answered immediately, "I did pick Jeev's brains. He's been here three times. We've had a couple of discussions earlier. A lot of good advice. Even Arjun (Atwal) who has played here before.

"(Today) I had a chance to catch up with Sir Nick Faldo this morning, and he's one of the greats who has been really well out here. I had about a 15-20 minute chat. Well, I didn't have a chat. He had a chat with me. I was listening. (smiles)

"I also had a chance to play nine holes on the back nine yesterday with Vijay Singh, he's a past champion as well. Obviously I'm trying to soak in all the experience not just of being here but of playing here and understanding the golf course, and how best I can play personally with my game."

He summed up saying, "So what is my game style, what are my strengths, and how can I work with those and maximize my opportunity.  That's basically been my exercise over the last day and a half."

The pairing and tee times will be announced later on Tuesday.