India’s Anirban Lahiri is not about to again come undone by a mismanagement of apparel after grabbing two eagles and race to a two shot lead on day one of the Omega European Masters at Crans Montana in Switzerland.
Lahiri, 26 posted an eight under par 63 in superb scoring conditions on the Alpine Crans-sur-Sierre course.
India’s affable Anirban Lahiri heads day one of 2013 Omega European Masters by two shots. (Photo – www.golffile,ie)
It put the Bangalore-born player in the clubhouse and two ahead of former Swiss champion, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and the England pair of recent Johnnie Walker Championship winner in Tommy Fleetwood, and reigning Irish Open winner, Paul Casey.
The current World No. 178th ranked Lahiri commenced his round with a bogey at the 13th hole that he was playing as his fourth.
He then unleashed the fireworks in holing a 15th foot putt for eagle at the next before sending his 138-yard second shot at the 18th or the ninth hole into the bottom of the cup.
Lahiri, who is competing in the event for only a second time, then birdied the next two holes along with his 15th and then holed out for birdie at the last in a round that was two shots shy of Jimenez’s 2010 Swiss course record of 61.
“It’s nice to come back here with a bang as it was a tough pill to swallow last year missing the cut in the manner I did, so I’m delighted,” he said.
“I did not get off to a great start today to be one over after four but then you never really expect to then have two eagles, so I tried just to build on the momentum of that.
“So I am happy I was able to focus so well after that early bogey.”
A year ago Lahiri was lying in fourth place after an opening round 66 but got caught out severely on day two with a change in the weather conditions and ended up shooting an 81 and easily miss the halfway cut.
“Playing here last year was a new experience for me as I went out in the second morning with about four layers on and after three to four holes I was sweating like a pig,” he recalled.
“The next thing I knew I had to peel off some clothes but then the clouds rolled in and the wind got up and I started then feeling like an icicle on the back nine.
“So that was a harsh lesson to learn and hopefully I can make amends this week.”
However Laihir, who is a three-time winner in his homeland, is only returning to competition after injuring his right leg in a training mishap during a on break in competition the Asian Tour.
“I was training back home in Bangalore about four weeks ago and I just fell heavily in a hole and twisted my collateral ligament down the side of my knee,” he said.
“I’ve had a history of injury in my right knee as I tore my ACL ligament when I was 15, so I didn’t hit golf balls for two days.
“So when I came here on Monday to play a practice round it was only my fourth round in a month so I came here to Switzerland with no expectations, at all.
“But thankfully for the physio staff here and I met one of the sports doctors working here on the European Tour and she gave me the thumbs up to saying the injury is healing well.
“I still have about three layers of strapping but the good aspect is that it doesn’t worry all that much out on the course.
“But then I am feeling more comfortable and stronger as the week’s progress.”
Two of Lahiri’s compatriots in Jeev Milka Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar are already will playing is shooting three under par 68s.
And Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who also signed for a 68, has put aside the disappointment of being overlooked for a Presidents Cup International Team ‘wildcard’ pick.
Jaidee, who finished 11th on the International Team qualifying table and just one place outside of the top-10 automatic qualifiers, was overlooked in favour of Australia’s Marc Leishman and South African Brendan De Jong who finished a respective 12th and 14th on the table.
“I was very disappointed not to be chosen but it will make me more determined to make the team the next time,” said Jaidee.
