Anirban Lahiri earns Open Championship debut

India's Anirban Lahiri was among those qualifiers for the Open Championship in July, after firing a final-round 67 at a rain-affected International Final Qualifying (IFQ) Asia

IFQ Asia qualifiers
(Image credit: R&A via Getty Images)

India's Anirban Lahiri was among those qualifiers for the Open Championship, after firing a final-round 67 at a rain-affected International Final Qualifying (IFQ) Asia.

Lahri qualified for his first Open Championship along with Prayad Marksaeng, Kodai Ichihara and Mardan Mamat, the latter of whom overcame compatriot Lam Chih-Bing and Jonathan Moore of America in a play-off. 

"It has been a childhood dream of mine. This is the third IFQ I have come for and the last couple of times I played pretty poorly. It is really nice that I have made it," said Lahiri, who posted a nine-under-par 135.

Play was suspended for over two hours due to lightning threats, and two-time Asian Amateur Championship winner Hideki Matsuyama was one of those to come unstuck in tough conditions. 

Matsuyama, who was the first Asian Silver Cup winner for low amateur at last year's Masters, shot a six-under 30 on the front nine, before blowing his Open Champiosnship chance with six dropped shots on his last three holes.

Meanwhile, Marksaeng, a six-time Asian Tour winner, bounced back from an opening-73 to qualify for his fifth Open Championship.

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