Very few golfers from India have ever cemented their name in American golf, and arguably the most well-known of them is Anirban Lahiri. The 36-year-old had been a trending golfer on the Asian Tour when, in 2015, the Indian pro earned the PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour. From his struggling days on the PGA Tour to being one of the established golfers on the breakaway circuit, did Lahiri have a certain someone supporting his passion?

Indeed, he did! Lahiri got married to his long-time girlfriend, Ipsa Jamwal, in May 2014 in a traditional Indian ceremony. The couple was off on their honeymoon in Madagascar. However, celebrations were cut short when the golf pro learned that he had qualified for the 2014 Open at Hoylake. Lahiri then praised his wife for being understanding, saying, “My wife has taken it well… She’s been very supportive.”

After ten years as a married couple, the couple has seen many ups and downs. And in between them, they have welcomed two children, which Lahiri defined as anything he could ever achieve on the golf course. Anirban Lahiri and his wife, Ipsa, welcomed their first daughter, Tisya Lahiri, in 2019, and after two years, their second son, Avyaan, was born in May 2022.

Avyaan Lahiri arrived just a week before Lahiri was preparing for his first major, the PGA Championship, since 2019. The 36-year-old had planned that he would withdraw from the event if his son arrived early, but he was on perfect timing. Lahiri said everything worked out because he could prepare for the major with his wife.

Nevertheless, Lahiri has greatly benefited from his wife’s unwavering support, who jokingly refers to herself as a casual golf spectator due to her constant presence and observation of his game. This unwavering support from his family, along with his reciprocal care for them, was a major factor in Lahiri’s decision to make a significant career change in 2022.

Anirban Lahiri cites his family as the reason for moving to LIV Golf

Lahiri discussed his decision to join LIV Golf and leave the PGA Tour in an interview with the Times of India. The 36-year-old explained that playing on the PGA Tour has been difficult for him as he could not perform better, which in turn affected his motivation levels. Secondly, the 7-time Asian Tour winner ascribed that his family was the other biggest reason why he left the tour.

The LIV star explained that with two children and his wife, it was getting a bit difficult, and he pondered the idea of moving back to India. In the middle of that, LIV Golf was introduced, and many top players signed lucrative deals with the Saudi-backed league. Lahiri said, “The timing was correct. The financial aspect also cannot be ignored.” Thus, despite the criticism, he made the jump to LIV Golf and has been satisfied with his decision ever since.

Since joining the disruptive league, the 36-year-old has yet to win an individual event and take home the $4 million winner’s cut. However, he has lifted the black trophy four times with his LIV Golf team, the Crushers GC. Through it all, Ipsa Lahiri and their two children have been Lahiri’s backbone, and he might soon be able to enjoy his maiden win on LIV Golf with them by his side.