Anirban Lahiri notches best major finish by an Indian player

Anirban Lahiri yells after a shot during the fourth round of the PGA Championship. (AP) SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Anirban Lahiri may have finished seven strokes back of PGA Championship winner Jason Day, but his T-5 finish at Whistling Straits made history, marking the best finish in major championship by an Indian player.

Shiv Kapur finished ninth at the 2013 British Open.

“I won’t really say I was in contention here, because I was a long ways out. But I was in the mix,” Lahiri said after a final-round 4-under 68. “It’s a great feeling.”

Lahiri also won the PGA of America’s long-drive contest on Tuesday, hitting a 327-yard drive that won him a gold money clip and a $ 25,000 charitable donation in his name.

It’s the cap on a great season for the 28-year-old. Lahiri won his first two European Tour events in February, taking the Malaysian Open before winning his national championship at the Indian Open in a playoff. Those victories rocketed him up the Official World Golf Ranking, landing him opportunities like this one at the PGA.

The great week here proves part affirmation and part motivation.

“It’s massive for me. It gives me so much confidence,” Lahiri said. “It also tells me that I can compete with the best on the toughest courses and the best fields. Also tells me that I need to get just a little bit better and maybe I’ll be back here more often.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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