Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA, 16-08-2015
Lahiri flying high in tied eighth at PGA Championship, six off lead
Best Major finish by an Indian on the cards
Anirban Lahiri kept the tricolour flying high in all its glory on Independence Day with a spirited performance at the PGA Championship on Saturday. Lahiri (70-67-70), the current world no. 53 and winner of two European Tour titles this year, is on the threshold of creating another significant piece of history as he lies tied eighth and six behind leader Jason Day of Australia after round three at Whistling Straits.
Anirban, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, carded a third round two-under-70 featuring five birdies and three bogeys to take his total to an impressive nine-under-207 as the year’s final Major heads into its final round.
Earlier in the day, seven-time Asian Tour winner Lahiri added three birdies in his remaining five holes from round two when play resumed after the weather suspension on Friday. He thus ended up with a spectacular five-under-67 in round two which included six birdies and a bogey. This placed him tied fourth after round two, the best an Indian player has been placed during that stage at any Major.
It was also the best-ever round by an Indian at any Major and bettered the score of 68, recorded once each by Jeev Milkha Singh (2008 PGA), Lahiri himself (2012 British Open) and Shiv Kapur (2013 British Open).
Lahiri then had a dream start to round three as he collected birdies on the first two holes to move into tied second place, three shots off the lead. He sank a 10-footer on the first and landed it within five feet on the second.
The 28-year-old missed the green on the par-3 seventh and as a result dropped his first bogey of the day. Anirban had another brace of birdies on the 11th and 12th. On the par-5 11th, he bombed a 354 yard drive to set up birdie, while on the par-3 12th he narrowly missed an ace.
A brilliant chip-putt earned him his fifth birdie of the day on the 16th even as he dropped strokes on the 15th and 18th after finding the fairway bunkers and the rough.
The Indian star, playing his seventh Major, sixth in a row, is now confident of delivering another top performance in the last round in order to make that final push.
“You’re going to have to come out with a hot start if you want to have a chance, because there are birdies on this golf course and these guys are good. You’ve got to play great. That’s what I’m going to try to do,” said Lahiri.
“I’m happy with the way I hit it. Quite frustrated with my score. I didn’t really make anything inside ten feet. So it’s kind of one of those rounds that could have been, I think, but I’m going to have to play lights out tomorrow.
“I’m going to make more putts tomorrow,” added Lahiri, who is now well on course to becoming the first Indian to make the International Team for the Presidents Cup scheduled to be held in October this year.
There are a few other records that will be within Anirban’s sight on the final day at Whistling Straits. These include equalling Korea’s Y.E. Yang’s feat where he became the first Asian to win a Major at the same event in 2009 and posting the best Major finish by an Indian, a record currently held by Jeev Milkha Singh courtesy his tied ninth finish again at the PGA Championship in 2008.
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Srinivasan H R (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
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