Chonburi, Thailand: India’s Anirban Lahiri will make a concerted bid to break into the world’s top-50 when he tees off at next week’s US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship.

With important world ranking points at stake, Lahiri knows a good result at the Thai showpiece will bring him closer towards his goal of ending the year inside the top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

“The Thailand Golf Championship is an important event as there will be lots of world ranking points on offer and I really need that to break into the top-50.

I’ve been playing well all season and there’s no reason why I cannot do well again at this event,” said Lahiri.

The 27-year-old finished tied fourth at last year’s edition and with a string of impressive results including two victories on the Asian Tour this season, Lahiri is optimistic of his chances at the Thailand Golf Championship.

A star-studded field featuring the likes of defending champion Sergio Garcia, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, reigning US Open winner Martin Kaymer and Asian Tour honorary member Ernie Els of South Africa are expected to draw the huge crowds to the Amata Spring Country Club.

“I’m obviously looking to better that result. It has been a fantastic on and off the golf course and I definitely want to end the year on a high,” said Lahiri, who married his long-time girlfriend Ipsa Jamwal in May.

Besides his two victories on the region’s premier Tour this year, the five-time Asian Tour winner also played an integral role in securing a thrilling draw with Europe at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in March and has also enjoyed six top-10s to climb to second place on the money list.

The 27-year-old still has a fighting chance to pip David Lipsky of the United States to the Order of Merit crown at the Thailand Golf Championship which is the penultimate event of the year.

“I’m running out of tournaments and it’s going to be difficult to bridge such a big gap. I’ve to win at least one more event to have a chance of winning the Order of Merit,” said Lahiri.

Since it was inaugurated in 2011, the Thailand Golf Championship has grown into one of the most prestigious events on the Asian Tour, pitting the region’s best players against a stellar international field.

With its rise in stature, the Thailand Golf Championship has also been confirmed as part of The Open Qualifying Series (OQS), with four places at the 2015 Open, to be held at St Andrews, up for grabs.