Thailand Golf Championships: Lahiri finishes tied fourth

Bangkok: Anirban Lahiri missed a fistful of makeable putts to turn in his first over-par round and finish tied-fourth at the USD one million Thailand Golf Championships at the Amata Spring Country Club here today.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia (68), who had his girlfriend, Katharina Boehm as the caddie this week, held off World No. 3 Henrik Stenson (68) to win his first title of 2013.

Garcia finished at 22-under 266 and stayed four clear of Stenson, winner of the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai on either side of the Atlantic this year. Stenson was 18-under 270.

Lahiri finished at 13-under 275, nine behind Garcia, but he was the top Asian Tour player.

Tied fourth with Lahiri were US Open winner Justin Rose (72), the 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (67) and Japan Tour's young star Yuki Kono at 13-under 275.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (70) was steady with four birdies and two bogeys to tie for 10th with Thongchai Jaidee (68) and Marcus Fraser (69) at 10-under 278.

Sujjan Singh (75), tied seventh overnight, had a sharp fall to tied 30th, where he was in 2012 Masters winner, Bubba Watson's company. Sujjan roller-coaster ride had two doubles, four bogeys and five birdies.

Jeev Milkha Singh (69) with six birdies and three bogeys, shot his best round of the week and moved up to tied 36th at four-under 284.

"I had six birdies one each of the last two days, but only three on first two days and that tells the full story," said Jeev.Lahiri playing with Garcia and Stenson for the first time, was visibly disappointed at not being able to make a charge on the final day.

"It was a disappointing round today. I don't think I was as focused as I needed to be on the greens. I missed a lot of putts, especially on the back nine. I made two bogeys today, and just one birdie. There are lots of birdies on this golf course to be made. So, not a great time but I am still happy with the way I played this week," said Lahiri.

Lahiri, who has had one win and five other top-10 finishes this year, added, "It was a great experience playing with Rickie (yesterday) and Henrik and Sergio (today), to see how all the best in the world go about their business. Personally (today), I think the putter ran hot and cold. I'm looking forward to some time off, feeling a bit tired as well."

Garcia was elated at closing the year with a win.

"It was an amazing week, for everything, for obviously being the last week of the year, for having (girlfriend Katharina Boehm) caddie for me, for everything about it," said Garcia, who interestingly had won his last event for 2012, too.

Stenson, who has had a sensational year, said, "It was a good week. I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, (there was) not too much going for me to perform this week in that sense. But I made (up) really nicely yesterday and I was hanging in there and I was just coming up a couple short."