Lahiri back in top 50

India’s Anirban Lahiri is back in the top 50 of the world golf rankings following a strong showing at the Omega European Masters last week.

Lahiri finished fifth in Switzerland to jump up from 61st at the end of the Open Championship two weeks ago to 50th.

In addition to returning to the top 50, Lahiri also recorded his first top-five finish since February and is on the verge of becoming the third Asian player to surpass the million dollar mark on the Asian Tour, following in the footsteps of compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.

Furthermore, he has also topped a million dollars on the European tour this year and is currently ranked ninth.

“I’m happy to be playing well again,” Lahiri, who has made $ 925,484 on the Asian Tour this season, told PTI. “I had a very good start to the year and played well in the beginning but I didn’t play anywhere near my best after that.

“I feel like my form is coming back. It’s an important time of the year and hopefully I can keep this going.”

Meanwhile, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama remains the top-ranked Asian player in the world rankings in 15th. The 23-year-old has finished in the top 10 eight times this year, including a career-high fifth at a major at the Masters.

Despite not doing well in the three majors this year, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee is in 38th, as he has made up for it with solid performances on the European Tour, recording five top-10 finishes which include two runners-up berths.

South Korea’s Byeong-Hun An (57), Aphibarnrat (92) and Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata (95) are the other Asian players in the top 100.

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