Record Rs 17 crore pay day for Anirban Lahiri

Anirban Lahiri finishes second at The Players, just a shot behind winner, claims $2.18 million in prize moneyIt can happen in life, it can happen in golf. That sudden turnaround, a reversal of fortunes. "The beauty about what we do is that you're one week away from being a PGA Tour winner," said Anirban Lahiri in a pre-tournament news conference at The Players Championship. Probably no one gave a chance to the man who had just snapped a streak of three consecutive missed cuts with a T-74th finish at Arnold Palmer Invitational a week before. In 12 starts on the Tour, Lahiri had missed seven cuts and his best finish was tied 40th position. Besides, TPC Sawgrass had been a pain in the neck for the Bengali from Bengaluru. In five appearances at The Players, he had missed four cuts and finished tied 74th in 2019. And by his own admission this year, he was not enjoying the game anymore.

"I think the inconsistency that has crept up in different departments of my game can be irritating, can sometimes be infuriating, frustrating, a lot of those negative emotions, and those get in the way of actually enjoying your golf," he had said. But it's all about the grind, the hard work, hope, the small tweaks...yes, yes, life. You wait for the big break with or without a smile, and then you see the sunshine after the storm. It was just a little short of the jackpot, just one number away. But it pays to be second in golf, especially at The Players with a total prize purse of $20 million. A cheque for $2. 18 million will soothe the pain, right? "I want to win. I've been here seven years; haven't gotten over the line yet. That's definitely a monkey I want to get off my back. Today was as good an opportunity as any," said Lahiri. In the final