INDIA'S LAHIRI COMES FROM FIVE BEHIND TO WIN 

MALAYSIAN OPEN - HIS FIRST ON EUROPEAN TOUR
 
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India’s Anirban Lahiri overcame a five-shot deficit in the final round to claim his first European Tour title at the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur today.

Picture of Lahiri with the trophy by courtesy of Getty Images(c)
A ten-under-par 62 on Saturday provided the foundation for Lahiri’s brilliant victory, and he followed it with a four-under 68 – which included a 40ft putt for birdie at the 17th – to deny overnight leader Bernd Wiesberger, who closed with a 74.
Austrian Wiesberger birdied the first two holes to open up a five-stroke advantage, but he double-bogeyed the par five fifth and played the back nine in two over, missing a birdie attempt from 20 feet at the par five 18th which would have forced a play-off.
Englishman Paul Waring and Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares shared third place after rounds of 73 and 74 respectively, while defending champion Lee Westwood had a disappointing 75 to finish tied fifth.

Quotes:

Anirban Lahiri
“I was just trying to focus on getting off to a good start. That was the key yesterday to a low round. There are a lot of birdie opportunities early in the round and then you have some more towards the end – it’s the middle part of the golf course that’s hard to navigate.
" Luckily for me I made some good putts early in the round and I knew that if I played consistently and put some pressure on, maybe I would have a chance on the back nine. As it turned out, that’s what happened.
“The 17th was a big boost for me. I missed some good opportunities on 15 and 16, so it was a very important putt and the shot of the day for me.”

Bernd Wiesberger
“It hasn’t quite finished the way I intended to. That’s what golf is. After the hiccup on the fifth, I didn’t hit it anywhere near as well as the last 15 rounds. It’s tough to say but it is what it is and unfortunately I beat myself out of it today. Still, it’s a good week. Congratulations to Anirban, who played a lovely round today. I will try again.”

Paul Waring

“I’d obviously have taken third place at the start of the week. I only got into the tournament late on Sunday after Dubai, so to walk away with third I’m very happy. I’m a little disappointed not to challenge a bit more today. But the more times I put myself in this position, hopefully I’ll get to a point where I can polish one off and take a victory. 
"Hats off to the winner today – ten under par yesterday and 68 today is a great weekend. It’s a great start to 2015 and I think this is my biggest pay cheque, so I’m very happy.”

Alejandro Cañizares
It was a very fun week overall. I played really well the first three days and putted really well, but today just wasn’t my day. It felt like nothing was happening, I was missing shots, I chunked a hybrid on the tenth and I missed every putt I had until the 12th, where I made a good birdie. 
"So it was a negative day until then, but I picked it up and started making birdies and I came back a little bit, so that’s the positive side and I’m going to leave with that and try my best again in the next tournament. I’m playing well, I’m putting well and I’m confident, so I don’t see why I can’t win soon.”

Lee Westwood
“It’s been a good week, I’ve really enjoyed it. I always enjoy coming to Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a great city and the golf course was very good. I didn’t quite have my swing where I wanted it to be, but I know what I’ve got to work on and the good points were on the greens. I putted really well all week. A top five is a good defence, but I had a chance to win so I’m disappointed I didn’t.”

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 A Lahiri (Ind) 70 72 62 68
273 B Wiesberger  (Aut) 70 66 63 74
275 A Cañizares  (Esp) 68 65 68 74, P Waring  (Eng) 69 68 65 73
277 P Peterson (USA) 72 69 64 72, L Westwood (Eng) 66 67 69 75, R Lee (Can) 69 69 68 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 70 70 68 69
278 M Warren (Sco) 70 71 69 68
279 S Chawrasia (Ind) 76 67 68 68
280 N Holman  (Aus) 72 71 71 66, W Ormsby (Aus) 73 69 71 67, R Bland (Eng) 68 70 73 69
281 S Hend (Aus) 73 72 66 70, J Wang (SKor) 77 66 67 71,
282 P Lawrie (Irl) 71 66 75 70, R Rock (Eng) 70 70 74 68, T Pieters  (Bel) 73 73 70 66, P Uihlein  (USA) 72 72 65 73
283 T Jaidee (Tha) 72 73 67 71, J Higginbottom (Aus) 69 71 67 76, P Larrazábal (Esp) 73 69 67 74, A Quiros  (Esp) 70 70 67 76, T Khrongpha (Tha) 74 69 70 70
284 J Pagunsan (Phi) 71 69 74 70, M Madsen  (Den) 72 70 70 72, M Fraser (Aus) 72 69 72 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 72 70 71, D Chia (Mas) 67 74 69 74, P Meesawat  (Tha) 68 72 70 74, G Green (am) (Mas) 74 68 73 69
285 G Havret  (Fra) 72 72 69 72, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 74 72 67 72, J Quesne  (Fra) 71 72 71 71, A Hansen (Den) 68 76 69 72,
286 R Khan  (Ind) 73 73 73 67, A Dodt (Aus) 69 73 73 71, G McDowell  (NIr) 66 73 72 75, E Grillo (Arg) 70 73 71 72, J Carlsson (Swe) 74 69 68 75, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 72 70 73,
287 S Kang (Kor) 67 74 69 77, D Lipsky (USA) 72 73 70 72, C Pigem (Esp) 73 71 69 74, M Jiménez (Esp) 72 71 71 73,
288 S Kapur (Ind) 72 71 74 71
289 J Janewattananond (Tha) 77 69 69 74, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 76 72 71, A Sullivan (Eng) 70 70 72 77, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 70 74 67 78, E Molinari  (Ita) 72 73 73 71
290 H Chien-Yao (Tpe) 75 70 73 72, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 74 70 76, S Othman  (Mas) 73 71 70 76, M Hoey  (NIr) 75 70 68 77, M Foster (Eng) 71 73 74 72, C Plaphol (Tha) 76 68 72 74
291 A Que (Phi) 72 72 74 73, S Jamieson  (Sco) 73 72 72 74,
292 R Wattel  (Fra) 70 73 71 78, A Lascuna (Phi) 74 72 73 73, S Gallacher (Sco) 69 77 71 75, O Fisher  (Eng) 73 73 73 73
293 L Wei-Chih (Tpe) 77 67 74 75, M Tabuena (Phi) 74 72 76 71, S Brazel (Aus) 73 71 78 71, H Otto (RSA) 73 69 76 75
294 R Finch  (Eng) 73 73 75 73
295 S Dyson  (Eng) 72 73 72 78, N Fung (Mas) 71 71 76 77, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 74 72 78
297 R Nachimuthu  (Mas) 73 72 75 77
299 T Fleetwood  (Eng) 67 79 73 80, P McGinley (Irl) 69 76 77 77



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