'I can compete with the best': India’s Anirban Lahiri does Asia proud with fifth-place finish at PGA Championship

Anirban Lahiri notched up India’s best-ever result at a major championship by finishing tied fifth at the PGA Championship on Sunday, leaving him in no doubt he belonged at golf’s top table with the game’s current crop of rising stars.

The 28-year-old closed with an assured final round of four-under-par 68 and a 13-under total on the notoriously tricky Whistling Straits track, seven shots back of winner Jason Day of Australia who held off double major winner Jordan Spieth.

“It’s been a fantastic week,” Lahiri said after eclipsing the previous Indian major record of a tied ninth finish by Jeev Milkha Singh at the 2008 PGA Championship.

Lahiri will be defending his Venetian Macao Open title when it is staged at the Macau Golf and Country Club from October 15 to 18.

“I won’t really say I was in contention here because I was a long way out, but I was in the mix. It’s a great feeling, it’s massive for me. It gives me so much confidence.

“It also tells me that I can compete with the best on the toughest courses and the best fields. It also tells me that I need to get just a little bit better and maybe I’ll be back here more often.”

Lahiri, who finished tied 30th at the British Open and made the cut at his first Masters this year, has enjoyed a whirlwind 18 months.