The 27-year-old, who won the Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club's West course, knows that a big week could also be the springboard to his American dream.
"This is a very important week for me in many different ways. Both in terms of 2015 and in terms of 2016, it's a funny situation to be in because obviously this event is critical as far as the Asian Tour Order of Merit is concerned," said Lahiri, who leads second-ranked Scott Hend of Australia by slightly over USD 621,000 on the Asian Tour rankings.
"And in terms of where I am now with moving on to play in America and getting my card and my membership there, this becomes a very important event because this is my first event on the PGA TOUR officially for 2016," he added.
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He will need to contend against a stellar line-up who includes Major champions Adam Scott of Australia and Ernie Els of South Africa, 2013 FexExCup champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden and double title holder Ryan Moore of the United States.
Mardan Mamat of Singapore, who finished fifth in the 2010 CIMB Classic, Indian S.S.P. Chawrasia and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand will be among the Asian Tour stars hoping to catch Lahiri on the Merit race.
"In terms of the game, I think it's in a really good place. But obviously the energy levels are beginning to dip. It's been a long year. I've made four or five trips all the way across the world from India to America, then back, then to Europe, then back, then to Asia, then back. But I'm at home right now. This is as close to home as it gets for me, and I'm just comfortable on this golf course," said Lahiri.