Leading Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri on Monday said the tied fifth place finish at the 97th Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Championship held in the United States between August 13-16 has given him the confidence that he can compete with the world's best.
Lahiri carded 70, 67, 70 and 68 for a 13-under 275 total that helped him overshadow the previous best finish by an Indian at one of the four golf Majors. Jeev Milkha Singh had taken the joint ninth spot at the PGA Championship in 2008.
Asked how other golfers reacted to his performance at the Whitsling Straits, the World No.39 said: "It was not like I was in contention but I was in the mix. After the final round, when I returned to the locker room, other golfers like (World No.1) Jordan Spieth, (World No.7) Dustin Johnson congratulated me and said 'well played'. So it is always good to be appreciated and being respected for your performance."
"It gave me the feeling that they are my peers. It has given me the confidence that I can compete with them and beat them," Lahiri said after his sponsor, motorcycle major Hero felicitated the 28-year-old.
Lahiri, who finished tied 30th at the British Open and made the halfway cut at his first Masters this year also became the only Indian to post under-par scores at all the four rounds in the golf Majors.
The current Asian Tour leader said the performance at the PGA Championship was a "big step in the right direction" towards achieving his ultimate aim of winning a Major.
"I feel this was a big step in the rignt direction and I hope that this is the beginning of things to come. I need to kick on from here. My ultimate dream is to win a Major," the seven-time winner on the Asian tour, said.
"I have played six consecutive majors and when you play regularly at the highest level, you get comfortable. But if there is a gap, then it becomes difficult. So it helped me a lot this year."
His performance also helped him jump 15 places to be 38th in the world rankings. He has since has dropped a place in the rankings.
Lahiri's move up almost has sealed the Bengalurean's place in the International Team, which is set to face the US at the Presidents Cup in South Korea on October.
"I am really excited about this and I can't wait to see my name in the International team. It is one of the things you love to be a part of as a golfer and I am very excited," Lahiri, who won February's Malaysia and Indian Open titles, said.
He is als hopeful of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, where golf will make its debut as a sporting discipline.
But for now, Lahiri will head back to the US in two weeks time to secure his PGA Tour card. He will play in the Web.com finals -- a series of four tournaments that will offer qualifications for the PGA Tour.
Asked about the possibility of a merger of Asian Tour and European Tours, Lahiri said: I don't know about the exact blueprint. What I know is that it will further enhance the quality and competition among players. It will have a better structured Tour where the golfers will get very very different experiences that will help them grow as well."
"As per the financial part is concerned, all I can say that Asian Tour has grown enormously and no one can ignore Asia."
