Anirban Lahiri finishes tied 10th in Maybank Malaysian Open

Anirban Lahiri in action during round four of the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur

Indian youngster Anirban Lahiri finished an impressive tied 10th while Englishman Lee Westwood marched to a convincing seven-stroke victory for his first title in two years after a flawless four-under-par 68 at the Maybank Malaysian Open golf here Sunday.

EurAsia Cup star Anirban Lahiri of India, a three-time Asian Tour winner, was the best placed Asian in tied 10th place after a closing 70 while Masahiro Kawamura of Japan, who won his first Asian Tour title last year, finished a further shot back.

The Englishman completed his wire-to-wire win in style when he holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the last for an 18-under-par 270 winning total at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Major champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa threatened briefly by shooting four birdies in his first seven holes but dropped shots around the turn saw his challenge fizzle as he signed for to a 68.

Taking joint second place with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium in the $2.75 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Westwood, a winner here in 1997, reinforced his reputation as an Asian specialist after extending his career tally in Asia to 13 victories. The triumph came a week after the world number 36 finished seventh in the Masters Tournament last week.

“Yes, this win has come at an important time. I’ve started working with a new coach and Billy Foster came back on my bag at the end of last year. I’m going back to what I’ve done before because it works. It is starting to work already,” smiled Westwood, who turns 41 next week.

Lahiri was proud with his top-10 result which capped an amazing Malaysian swing for the Indian, who was part of Team Asia who tied with Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup here three weeks ago.

“I played really good but I’m disappointed I didn’t make any birdies on the back nine. All in all it has been a solid week but I can’t help but feel that I left a lot out there. I’ve been hitting it really good. I hit 16 greens but didn’t make the putts which I needed to. I gave myself a lot of opportunities but couldn’t hole the birdies,” said Lahiri.

“I came in this week feeling good about my game. I really wanted to contend badly. I tried a bit too hard and forced the issue. I didn’t focus on what I needed to do. It got better on the weekend and it is good that I’m playing consistently,” he added.