India’s Anirban Lahiri feels many top-ranked golfers could not qualify for the Paris Olympics because of the stand-off between LIV Golf and Official World Golf Ranking, saying it may show to be a wake-up name for the world to take some motion. The 36-year-old Lahiri performs within the Saudi-funded LIV Golf, which isn’t recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking, making it extraordinarily powerful for him to seize one of many 60 spots on the Games. “There’s no point in speculating on what ifs. The reality of the situation is what it is. And within that framework, you have to find a way to qualify,” stated Lahiri, who might be competing on the Hero India Open this week, instructed reporters.

“You know, it might be a situation where a lot of really good golfers are going to be in the top 10, who could be playing for their countries, don’t make it to Paris.

“And possibly that is what’s wanted for the world to get up and say we have to do one thing. You know, there’s some ways to take a look at it.” Lahiri will have to earn the ranking points denied to the LIV Golf fraternity via the Asian Tour and also the Indian Open, where he will return after five years.

“Unless I play nicely this week and probably one or two extra occasions, there may be not a lot to stay up for sadly. I’m making an attempt my greatest clearly, that is a giant motivating issue for me to play nicely this week,” he said.

“I might like to go to Paris. Whether I play nicely or not play nicely does not mirror within the present world golf rankings, sadly. But that is how it’s. So I’ve to do one of the best with no matter alternatives that I’ve. I can not cry over it.

“When it (OWGR) gets fixed, how it gets fixed, does it needs to be fixed, those are different questions. Right now, I can control the next four rounds and then may be one or two event I can play, that’s what I can do, give my absolute best.” Lahiri, who has already participated in two Olympics, is at present the third Indian within the official rankings behind Shubhankar Sharma (202) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (240).

“I had two goes at it (Olympics), I have a whole list of excuses for not playing well (laughs) but then let bygones be bygones.

“It’s like a significant championship, proper? You need to have as many begins at majors as doable to contend and to win. So it is the identical factor. The Olympics are fewer and far additional in between.

“I don’t know where my goal for the world of golf will be four years from now. So I need to focus on, as I said, potentially eight rounds or 12 rounds that I have between now and Paris that will get me there.” Lahiri performed two occasions in February after which competed at Jeddah and Hong Kong this month in LIV however determined to skip the Macau occasion on the Asian Tour as his “body was feeling the burnt”.

“I feel I am playing really week. Honestly, my performance has been sporadic in LIV. I had just one good week but, by and large, I feel I played well. I haven’t scored my best. I have taken an extra week off to prepare for this week.

“I really feel rested and targeted and I need to go on the market and contend and be in rivalry on Sunday. I might love nothing extra and I really feel I’m prepared for it.” After a phenomenal 2015, which saw him win twice on the European Tour, and the T5 finish at the PGA Championship aiding his elevation to the PGA Tour, Lahiri had a comparatively quiet phase, until he finished runner-up at The Players Championship in 2022.

It was a second runner-up finish since the Indian’s run at the 2017 Memorial Tournament. He then switched to LIV Golf but a title has eluded him although he came close in Boston in 2022 and Adelaide, Bedminister and Chicago in 2023.

“It’s been some time and no one feels that greater than I do. You know the burden of I do not know what number of dozens of seconds I’ve had, lays heaviest on my shoulders. So I must get that off my again,” said Lahiri.

“It takes me again to after I was beginning my profession. So although I’ve performed 15-16 years, I’m nonetheless as determined to win this week as a result of I’ve to show it to myself. I haven’t got to show it to anyone else.

“The first time I played here was 1999, so it goes down memory lanes. I came here with fewer hairs and more grey this year, so time has passed. It has been a fantastic ride. So it is an important week for me.”

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