India’s Golfing greats Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia will put their epic rivalry to one side when they team up together for the first time ever at the EurAsia Cup that kicks off today. They will show their might against Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton and Ross Fisher in the sixth and final match at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

 

 

 

                                                  This is Anirban Lahiri’s third appearance in the EurAsia Cup

 

 

Lahiri, who has contributed three points for Team Asia in the last two editions in the EurAsia Cup, believes his camaraderie with Chawrasia will give them an edge over their talented opponents.

 

“I think it was a natural decision for Arjun, S.S.P. and myself.  I think S.S.P. and myself are very comfortable playing with each other.  We have great communication.  We have played so much golf together.  We were at the Olympics a couple years ago, and I think we have very complementary game styles,” shared Lahiri.

 

 

 After representing their country together in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the Indian pair hopes to do their part and guide Team Asia to their first victory in the EurAsia Cup, which was won by Team Europe in the 2016 edition.

 

 

 

                                          Team Asia and Team Europe pose before the much-awaited EurAsia Cup

 

 

Green, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and Ikeda, who is 36th in the world and is the highest ranked player in Team Asia, hope to inspire the team by putting an early point on the scoreboard.

 

Exciting young Thai talent Phachara Khongwatmai, who is the youngest player in the elite field at the age of 18, will have the experienced Hideto Tanihara of Japan for company in their match against Ireland’s Paul Dunne and Sweden’s Alex Noren.

 

Team Asia’s captain Arjun Atwal has put his faith in a predominantly young Asian team and the Indian believes Phachara will deliver the goods against Thomas Bjorn’s Team Europe.

 

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

 

• This is Anirban Lahiri’s third appearance in the EurAsia Cup. He is the third player alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Nicholas Fung to represent Asia for the third time.
• Lahiri and Chawrasia were in the 2016 team but they did not play together. This will be the first time the Indian duo is paired together.
• Lahiri has contributed the most points for Team Asia in the last six matches. In total he has collected three points since 2014. Chawrasia won one point for Asia in 2016.
• Lahiri is arguably the most experienced team match-play player as he also played in the Presidents Cup in 2015 and 2017.
• Interestingly Lahiri, Chawrasia  and the rest of Team Asia proudly display their country flags on their belt buckle.
• Phachara came close to winning in 2017 before settling for three runner-up results. He also shot a 21-under in the Asian Tour’s 2017 season-ending Indonesian Masters but was defeated by a red-hot Justin Rose by eight shots.
• He showed his match-play prowess at the 2017 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth where he was defeated in the final round to Brett Rumford of Australia.
• The lanky Phachara is also known for his big-hitting game. Atwal praised the young Thai during the opening ceremony by saying “he hits it long.”