Throughout his life and professional career, which started at the age of 20, Tiger Woods suffered several brutal injuries. But the one that came as the aftereffect of the 2021 car accident left him more affected than anything else before. Yet, the 15-time major came back to the sport, even for just a few events a year. He teed up with his aching body. And that’s exactly the characteristic Anirban Lahiri praised Woods for in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports’s Aravind Menon.

When Menon asked Anirban Lahiri about Woods and how he perceived him, Lahiri fondly said, “Truly, he’s. He was a genius.” Alluding to his various injuries and how it has left him impaired, Lahiri praised the 48-year-old and emphasized that if it had been anyone else, they would have stopped playing many years ago. Although Woods and Lahiri stand on two different ships and the merger still lingers without any progress, he hailed his spirit of still playing professional golf even though at 30 or 40 percent capacity.

In the exclusive tête-à-tête with EssentiallySports, the 37-year-old also recalled when Woods made the most jaw-dropping comeback and won the Masters in 2019, when his career was on a slow decline. Lahiri admiringly added, “Even with that, you’re still able to win a green jacket, you know, coming back after those injuries.” Talking about his fused back and the injured left ankle, the 7-time Asian Tour winner said, “It’s a miracle that he’s walking, let alone playing golf. So, you know, I just hope that he continues to be around… just his presence is a big thing.”

Woods’s presence in the golf world has always been regarded as something of value, and he has proven himself to be a needle mover to this day. Although the 48-year-old has disregarded the need for the merger for the PGA Tour, despite their differences, Lahiri agreed that no one has ever come to match Tiger Woods.

Lahiri deems Tiger Woods as the reason for golf’s growth

Tiger Woods has inspired many players to turn professional, and Anirban Lahiri is certainly one of them. While chatting with EssentiallySports, the 7-time Asian Tour winner recalled “it was a spectacle to behold” to watch Woods play. He relayed that throughout his career when he used to play on the PGA Tour, he was fortunate enough to hang out with him and get to know him better.

From these interactions and his awe for the 82-time PGA Tour winner’s consistency, Lahiri added that no one has done golf better than Woods, as he has been the only one to fight through everything, be consistent, and dominate the PGA Tour for more than a decade. “No one stands out like him. He’s the reason that golf is where it is, as popular and as desirable. He’s the one who’s changed all of that. So I have a lot of respect for him,” said the 37-year-old as he praised the one who influenced his career.

Although they cannot play in the same league as before and may have different perceptions of where golf needs to be, Lahiri could not hold off appreciating Woods and shared his admiration for the pro. And Lahiri wouldn’t be alone. Even his team captain, Bryson DeChambeau, chose Woods over Jack Nicklaus and himself. So, even though the PGA Tour and LIV Golf might not see eye to eye, there seems no hostility in the hearts of the pros, which is better for the game of golf!