Anirban Lahiri registered runner-up finish at The Players Championship in 2022
The 50th edition of the Players Championship, often hailed as golf’s fifth major, is taking place this week at the famous TPC Sawgrass course in Florida.
The Players is the tournament where India’s former PGA Tour member, Anirban Lahiri had perhaps the finest week of his career when he finished 2nd at the 2022 edition narrowly missing out to Cameron Smith who made a remarkable recovery from 60 yards to snatch victory on the 72nd hole.
Both Anirban and Cameron Smith are missing from action this week as both made the move to LIV Golf, giving up their right to play on the PGA Tour.
Whereas the spotlight this week is on The Players defending champion and current World No.1, Scottie Scheffler, who won last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, and on current favourite Rory Mcilroy, the absence of stars like Anirban, Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, has robbed the PGA Tour’s flagship event of some of its sheen.
In the 2022 season, Anirban’s last one on the PGA Tour, he made 12 cuts and amassed US$ 3 million in prize money including $2,180,000, at The Players.
Significantly, Indian fans are unable to watch “The Players” live on any channel or streaming platform this week – which is indeed unfortunate since its one of the favourite tournaments for golf lovers who look forward to the drama of the 17th hole island green par three as well as the tension surrounding the US$25 million purse.
Photo – Asian Tour