Anirban Lahiri & Shiv Kapur begin campaign in the wee hours of Friday

Anirban Lahiri 

It’s time for Indian golf fans to adjust their watches to Pacific Time, 12 and a half hours behind Indian Standard Time, as two of their own countrymen Anirban Lahiri and Shiv Kapur tee it up at the first ever U.S. Open to be staged in the Pacific Northwest of the country at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington, in a couple of days from now.

Anirban Lahiri, India’s highest ranked golfer at 45 in the world, will have the company of American duo Ryan Moore and Erik Compton in his opening two rounds at the year’s second Major which begins on Thursday, June 18. Lahiri will tee off in round one at 1450 hrs local time (0320 hrs IST on June 19).

Anirban, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, has been enjoying a spectacular run of form recently, winning twice at the start of the season in Malaysia and India to enjoy a comfortable advantage at the top of the money list in Asia.

India’s Shiv Kapur, who earned his ticket to the U.S. Open through the sectional qualifiers in England, will open his campaign with Americans Denny McCarthy and D.A. Points. Kapur, playing his second successive U.S. Open, will commence his first round at 1311 hrs local time (0141 hrs IST on June 19).

Here are some quick facts relating to Lahiri & Kapur’s appearance at the U.S. Open 2015:

 

• ·         The U.S. Open field will feature two Indians for the first time ever

 

• ·         Two Indians will be appearing at a Major event for the fourth time (The previous instances being: Jyoti Randhawa & Arjun Atwal at 2004 British Open, Jeev Milkha Singh & Jyoti Randhawa at 2008 PGA Championship, Jeev Milkha Singh & Anirban Lahiri at 2012 British Open)

 

• ·         Anirban Lahiri to make U.S. Open debut and fifth Major appearance

 

• ·         Anirban Lahiri set to become the third Indian to have played all four Majors after Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal

 

• ·         Anirban Lahiri set to become fourth Indian to appear at the U.S. Open after Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Shiv Kapur

 

• ·         Shiv Kapur to play second U.S. Open and fourth Major

 

• ·         Shiv Kapur set to become second Indian to appear at the U.S. Open for two years in succession after Jeev Milkha Singh (2006, 2007)

 

• ·         Shiv Kapur has come through qualifiers each time he has made it to a Major

 

• ·         Anirban Lahiri will now be tied with Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa for the second-highest number of Major appearances (5) among Indians (Jeev Milkha Singh tops the list with 13 Major appearances)