For Anirban Lahiri, 2024 was a year of heartbreak and missed opportunities. The 36-year-old golfer, who set high expectations for his debut season in LIV Golf, openly admits his disappointment, acknowledging that he fell short of his goals. Yet, as a new season looms, Lahiri is taking bold steps to reclaim his form and redefine his legacy—not just for himself, but for golf in India.
A season of missed opportunities
Lahiri didn’t mince words when reflecting on his performance last year. “It’s been a disappointing season for me,” he told Hindustan Times. “I set high standards for myself, and I measure myself in terms of consistency. I don’t think I could meet any of my goals last year.”
Despite flashes of brilliance, Lahiri found himself unable to convert key moments into victories. He attributes this to a lack of focus at critical junctures, a source of deep frustration for the seasoned golfer. “It’s been heartbreaking and frustrating at times. I think 2024 was full of bad memories, but I don’t think I played bad golf. There were a lot of moments that I didn’t take advantage of,” he admitted.
Turning frustration into fuel
Determined to reverse his fortunes, Lahiri has made significant changes to his approach. He has enlisted the help of Vijay Divech as his swing coach and worked with Nimrod Brockman, a mental performance specialist, to sharpen his psychological edge. Lahiri knows that physical skills alone won’t cut it in a sport as mentally taxing as golf.
With the International Series set to kick off in India next week, Lahiri is looking forward to playing on home soil, an opportunity he hopes will energize his game. “It’s not a vacation,” he said. “But golfers all over the world are excited to come to India. So far, India was just an exotic, mystical location for them, but now they are looking at us as a golf destination. That’s a very significant change.”
A driving force for Indian golf
Beyond his personal goals, Lahiri has been instrumental in elevating India’s status in the golfing world. It was his determination and tireless efforts that brought the LIV International Series to India—a milestone he’s immensely proud of. The road, however, was anything but easy.
“It was damn tough, to begin with,” Lahiri said of his campaign to convince LIV executives and players to bring the tournament to India. “The conversations began about six months back with DLF, following which I went about convincing the players. I don’t think I have done a great job of it because if I had, we would have another 25 internationals coming here considering the amount of people I spoke to.”
Despite these challenges, Lahiri’s persistence has paid off. Many prominent players are set to compete in the Indian leg of the series, marking a turning point for the nation as it emerges as a significant player on the global golf stage.
Redemption on the horizon
For Lahiri, the stakes this season couldn’t be higher. He’s fighting not just for personal redemption, but also to cement his role as a trailblazer for Indian golf. With a revamped strategy, mental resilience, and the backing of a nation, Lahiri is poised to turn heartbreak into triumph. The question now is: can he rise to the occasion?
As the new season unfolds, all eyes will be on Lahiri—not just to see if he can rediscover his best form, but to witness the impact of his efforts to bring Indian golf into the spotlight.