Anirban Lahiri finishes tied 30th at the Open
St. Andrews (Scotland), July 21 (IANS)
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri scored even-par 72 in the fourth and final round to finish tied 30th, while American Zach Johnson prevailed in a three-man four-hole play-off to win the 144th British Open at the Old Course here on Monday.
World No.58 Lahiri got a four-day total of six-under 282 (69-70-71-72), while world No.25 Zach (66), South African Louis Oosthuizen (69) and Australian Marc Leishman (66) were tied at 15-under 273 after 72 holes.
They were one shot ahead of reigning Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth (69) of the US and Australian Jason Day (70).
During the four-hole play-off, 2007 Masters champion Zach, 39 beat world No.17 Oosthuizen by one shot and world No.61 Leishman by three shots to pocket his second Major title.
Joint halfway leader Danny Willett and fellow Englishman Justin Rose both carded two-under 70s, as did Spaniard Sergio Garcia, to finish joint sixth on 11 under. Dustin Johnson, first day leader, finished tied 49th with a total of four-under 284.
American Jordan Niebrugge also hit a 70 to finish 11-under and claim the Silver Medal for leading amateur ahead of Ireland's Paul Dunne, the joint overnight leader, who shot a disappointing 78 to drop to joint 30th - same as Lahiri.
Starting his round six shots off the lead, Lahiri was determined for a quick charge from the opening tee. However, the scripts did not go according to plan when the 28-year-old suffered an early setback with an opening bogey.
Playing together with former Open champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Lahiri then fought back gallantly with four birdies on fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth holes for an outward 33.
However, a woeful back-nine where he dropped four shots in his last six holes marred his card and undid all his good work in his front nine.
Bengaluru-based Lahiri, appearing in his second British Open, knows he will return as a more accomplished player after he signed off at the world's oldest Major.
"I can't say I played well because I dropped too many shots over the last two days, which is disappointing. I hit into the bunker so many times this week and that cost me a shot every time," Lahiri said in an Asian Tour release.
"When you hit into these traps and get bitten, you realise how far you have to hit to stay away from them. But it has been a great learning experience and you learn from them, especially when you play on the course for the first time," said Lahiri.
Lahiri, who will turn his attention to the European Masters that is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in Switzerland later this week, continues to remain upbeat of making his impression on the international stage one day.
"It's good that I'm playing these sort of events an d on such courses. I can only get better as I progress," said Lahiri.