By a Correspondent
Anirban Lahiri ground out a 2-under 69 in the first round of the Northern Trust on Thursday to keep alive hopes of extending his run in the FedExCup Playoffs.
The 34-year-old, who qualified for the first of three Playoffs events in 121st place, needs to be inside the top-70 this week and the Indian responded with a solid showing display despite windy conditions at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.
Justin Thomas of the US, FedExCup champion in 2017, and Spain’s world no. 1, Jon Rahm carded matching 63s to share the first round lead.
American Harald Varner III was in third place following a 66.
Lahiri had four birdies against two bogeys for a share of 15th place with amongst others, Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, and knows he needs to places on the leader-board with his current projection placing him 90th on the FedExCup points list.
“I think I played really well. I hit my irons really good today, and you needed to,” Lahiri said later.
“Conditions were extremely hard. You have to hit the fairway and then the course is going to ask you some questions with your mid and long irons, and you just have to answer them.
Missing out
“I didn’t putt very well though I had a lot of chances, gave myself a lot of looks. Probably left two, three shots out there, but all in all, I’m satisfied,” said Lahiri, who ranked seventh in Strokes Gained: Approach to Green but 87th in putting.
Following a season where he came down with Covid-19 and endured limited starts due to his playing category, Lahiri is starting to show some good form again.
The two-time International team member at the Presidents Cup finished tied third at the Barbasol Championship last month.
He then needed two late birdies at the Wyndham Championship to safeguard his top-125 status on the FedExCup points list to return to the Playoffs after missing out the last two seasons.
“It’s nice. It feels familiar,” said Lahiri of his return into the Playoffs. “Feels like home. It feels like where I should be year after year.
“It doesn’t really feel odd or feel new in that sense, but, like I said, I’ve come into this Playoffs feeling really good about my game.
“It’s been a good place. So I’m trying to build on that and just build some momentum as I go through this,” added Lahiri.
Lahiri also understands the need to conserve his energy levels after a busy run of tournaments over the past two months which included a trip to the Olympic Games where he finished tied 42nd.
“I’m just trying to sleep more. The kind of schedule I’ve been on, the amount of tournaments I’ve played in, the miles that I’ve clocked, it’s about managing energy for me right now, and that’s what I’m focusing on,” he said.
“I know I’m playing well. I know most departments of my game are in good health. So it just comes down to staying on top of that, kind of managing the areas where I feel like I need to improve a little bit, and just trying to stay as fresh as possible.
Demanding course
“A golf course like Liberty National, especially when it gets windy like this, it demands a lot of mental energy. You have to be sharp mentally, and that’s what I’m trying to do this week.”
Reigning Masters champion Matsuyama had five birdies, one double bogey and one bogey in his 69.
Of the other Asians in the field, K.H. Lee and Sungjae Im of Korea opened with 71s, Si Woo Kim carded a 72 and Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan shot a 74.
At the top, Thomas and Rahm had few problems to come home three clear of Varner and five ahead of Australian Adam Scott.
Both entered the week in the top 10 in the FedExCup standings and top five in the Official World Golf Ranking
Down the order, Bryson DeChambeau (71) became the fourth player since 1983 to make two or fewer pars and still record a level-par or better with nine birdies, five bogeys and two doubles.
Defending champion and 2020 FedExCup champion Dustin Johnson was tied for 34th place on 1-under 70.
Also read: Lahiri into Wyndham weekend; Sharma well placed at Cazoo Classic
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