Golfer Lahiri eyes SAIL-SBI Open hat-trick

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri will be shooting for a historic hat-trick of victories when he defends his title at the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open, starting Wednesday.

No player in Asian Tour history has won the same tournament for three consecutive years and the 26-year-old, who is coming off a career-best season after finishing third on the Order of Merit, will get his chance at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC).

Apart from his success at the SAIL-SBI Open in 2012 and 2013, Lahiri was also victorious here at the 2011 Panasonic Open India but will need to overcome a stellar field which includes Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman, former Asian Tour No.1s Thaworn Wiratchant and Jyoti Randhawa, Sweden's Rikard Karlberg, Thailand's Prom Meesawat, American Berry Henson, Filipino Angelo Que and Japan's Masahiro Kawamura.

"It's always nice to be back at DGC where I've had so much success in the recent past. I'm feeling really good. I had a good finish to last season and have played a few events this year. I'm looking forward to this week," said Lahiri, who defeated countryman Rashid Khan in a play-off for last year's win.

From a course where he dreaded stepping a foot on early in his career, Lahiri has since mastered the ultra-demanding Delhi layout.

"When I came back last year, I didn't expect to win. I'm coming in here with similar expectations. Obviously, I am comfortable on this course. If I continue to do what I've done in the past which is to have a good strategy and execute it well, I'll be happy. I hope to give myself a chance on Saturday."

Lahiri, who will represent Team Asia in the inaugural EurAsia Cup against Europe in Malaysia next month, hopes to keep moving up the golfing hierarchy.

"I'm looking to break into the top-50 in the world rankings and will also try to get my European card this year. The consistency was good last year. Having played with the top players, you see how they go about their game and see what is so different that they are where they are. I'm trying to improve on my ball striking and putting and if I can improve on those, it will make a big difference," said World No.103 Lahiri.

Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, meanwhile, has withdrawn from the tournament with an elbow injury.