By Rahul Banerji
Woes with his putter returned to haunt Anirban Lahiti who had three bogeys against a single gained shot in round three of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Forth Worth. Texas, on Saturday.
With scoring no easy task in windy conditions, his 2-over for the day still had Lahiri in mid-pack ahead of the final round even as Kevin Na held a two-shot lead at 8-under par over a five-man bunch going into the final day’s acton.
Lahiri could have been at least one shot better off but for an 18th hole bogey that he three-putted after the driving the green on the par-4 hole. It was a similar story on the sixth and seventh holes too as he needed three putts on both occasions.
A three-day total of 1-over 211 (68, 71, 72) put Lahiri in a 11-strong pack at tied 47 that included 2018 British Open winner Francesco Molinari and ahead of the likes of Ian Poulter and defending champion Justin Rose.
‘New lease of life’
Na carded a 1-under 69 to lead Jordan Spieth and Jim Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion who last won four years ago.
“I’m not really looking at it as like the glass is half empty, the hourglass has almost run out of sand,” said the 49-year-old 17-time Tour winner Furyk. “This year has been kind of a new lease on life.”
Furyk matched the 4-under round of 68 by Spieth, whose last victory was his third major title at the 2017 British Open. Joining them at 7 under was C.T. Pan, who was tied with Na before bogeying his last two holes.
According to the PGA Tour website, birdies were scarce with most of the leaders playing in windy conditions that have made afternoon rounds. Second-round leader Jonas Blixt had none at all, opening with a bogey on the easy par-5 first before three more in his 74, four off the lead.
On Friday, Lahiri’s putter was more on target as he shot a 1-over 71 despite finding only eight of 18 greens in regulation. He had a 1-over 71 and a two-day total of 1-under 139 for T21st place.
After the second day, Blixt had led at 9-under, one clear of Na and first day leader Tony Finau while Rory Sabbatini was fourth at 6-under.
Kang, Jazz on the move
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Sung Kang enhanced his prospects of qualifying for the International Team to face the United States Team at the Presidents Cup this December following his maiden Tour victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson and a solo-seventh finish at the PGA Championship.
Kang’s two-week spell has pushed the 31-year-old 28 place up in the standings from 38 to 10th. He is currently the highest-ranked Korean in the standings and is looking to make his Presidents Cup debut.
The Presidents Cup returns to Melbourne, Australia this December when the Internationals, led by Ernie Els, will take on the USA led by Tiger Woods.
Other strong performances at the PGA by International hopefuls included a T8 finish by Adam Scott, no. 11 in the standings while 34-year-old Jazz Janewattananond of Thailandfinished T14 to rise from 16th to 12 in the standings.
Also read: Lahiri makes solid Valspar recovery to set up Indian Open run
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