Let’s pick up the threads from yesterday and complete the narrative of this build-up as Anirban Lahiri tees off at the Sanderson Farms Championship for the first time this season.
Part 1: Brush with virus has altered family’s perspective, says Anirban
The body was weary after the ugly brush with the virus, but the spirit stayed strong. Else, Anirban would not have been able to compete seven weeks out of nine going into the break. This included aiming for the summit at the Tokyo Olympics and qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs on the PGA Tour after a gap.
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Despite the mind focused on the job, the body had to be tended to considering energy levels had dropped drastically after recovery. “I operated at 50% physical capacity for the last two events (in the Playoffs),” said Anirban.
Steady Eddie so far.. let’s see if we can turn up the 🔥this weekend. @TheNTGolf #Playoffs #PGATour #Currypower pic.twitter.com/CfGsm1GZe3
— Anirban Lahiri (@anirbangolf) August 21, 2021
Those were energy-sapping outings, but Anirban went into the break “looking forward to the new season and pleased to get into some sort of form towards the latter half of the season.”
There was time on hand, and the brief off-season “had to start with rest, giving the body a break,” said Anirban. There were intense consultations within the team — Anirban, his doctor and trainer. “We had examples of too much, too soon proving to be counter-productive, hence it was about doing things in an intelligent way.”
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It started with mobility and stability, followed by strength and endurance. Upping the ante gradually has had its benefits but the scars of the fight will not go away in a hurry. What will linger is the satisfaction that he will have some control over scheduling this new season.
If this is comforting, what isn’t is staying winless since he got to the US in 2015 after that high at the PGA Championship. This season, everything will revolve around getting into the hallowed circle of winners. Rather than setting multiple tasks, ticking one box will allow everything else to fall in place. “I have been here long enough, and a win will take care of a lot of things, Majors, Presidents Cup (in 2022),” he said.
What better way to renew such a critical campaign than spending quality time with the family and a rejuvenating holiday. It was the Lahiris’ first in two-and-half-years, and especially after the torrid time Anirban, wife Ispa and little Tisya have been through, it was called for.
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There is hope in the air as the new season is the closest to normalcy. Excited as he is to inch closer to the pre-pandemic days, if Anirban can call upon the form of yore to tick that key box exciting times could be in the offing.
Photo credit: PGTI
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