Presidents Cup: Anirban Lahiri Proves To Be A Turning Point

For Friday’s match in the “Fourball” format, also called “Best-ball”, Nick Price, who is looking to recover a few ground on Friday, changed four of his five pairs, while USA captain, Jay Haas sat out his day’s losing pair, Reed and Kuchar, bringing in his son, Bill Haas, and Chris Kirk. Price felt that Scott would be a great influence for the Presidents Cup rookie Lahiri.

The final session was not without its share of heartbreak.

Lahiri ended his Presidents Cup campaign, where was the first Indian to feature with the biennial team event, with three losses but vowed to fight his way back into the worldwide Team in two years’ time. Based on the status of other matches still on the course, it looked like the worldwide team would finally emerge a victor.

It looked to be an nearly certain victory for the worldwide Team, until Kirk drained his putt for the birdie, putting pressure on Lahiri. Kirk’s putt died perfectly into the hole from the right edge. “But I think I did what I’ve done all week: misread putts”. Fine margins indeed. “These things are scripted I guess, and I wasn’t in the script this time”, said a despondent Lahiri. It was his final stroke as a professional before heading into the South Korean military for 21 months compulsory service.

Anirban Lahiri was seconds away from being the star in a dream debut at the Presidents Cup. Bae himself chunked a chip shot from off the 18th green, and later blamed nerves for the mistake that cost him a chance to secure a half point against Haas and a 15-15 tie for the Cup. Price also consoled him privately and in public. Bae chipped about 12 feet by the hole, and when Haas blasted out of a bunker to 8 feet, Bae conceded the putt.

“I knew that the half point was equally important”, said Lahiri who had pulled level with Kirk after a birdie at 14. “So I was very sad and disappointed about it”.

The point for the Americans was pivotal.

The guests took the early initiative and had early leads in nine matches, but the Internationals began to turn things around. The worldwide side had to have all the close matches go their way, and that’s what happened.

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Champions Tour: Tom Lehman had an eagle and three birdies in the final four holes to win the Champions Tour’s SAS Championship in Cary, North Carolina. Lahiri quickly settled over his putt… and missed.

Phil Mickelson had an unbeaten record (3-0-1) for the third time in the Presidents Cup, trouncing Charl Schwartzel. The two players were all square in their singles match.

The shortest match belonged to Adam Scott, who won six straight holes against American Rickie Fowler for a 6&5 thrashing.

Ultimately, though, the Americans were posing with the gold cup, just like always. They got out to a 4-1 deficit and never fully recovered. “Obviously, this is a heated contest and everybody wants to play well and win. Tomorrow, each and every one of my team members have to go out and play good golf”, the Zimbabwean icon said. But just didn’t get anything going. I’m sure the rest of the team is going to help me out.