Lahiri’s closing bogey puts him under pressure at Byron Nelson, Mukesh Kumar wins PGTI Players Championship

Anirban Lahiri was two-under after 17 but a bogey on ninth, his closing hole, saw him fall to one-under and Tied-81st, which will once again put him under pressure in the second round to make the cut. On the other hand, Mukesh Kumar won by one shot with a total of 15-under-273 at Panchkula Golf Club.

Anirban Lahiri hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation during his first round and had no less than five birdies, but he also gave away four bogeys to finish at 70 at the par-71 at the Trinity Forest.

Anirban Lahiri missed a bunch of easy putts on the greens, many of them inside 10 feet, to finish one-under 70 in the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson.

Lahiri was two-under after 17 but a bogey on ninth, his closing hole, saw him fall to one-under and Tied-81st, which will once again put him under pressure in the second round to make the cut.

Denny McCarthy shot a career-low 8-under 63 with 10 birdies over a 12-hole stretch after an early double bogey to take a one-shot lead over Tyler Duncan and Tom Hoge.

Three-time major champion Brooks Koepka, the No. 3-ranked player in the world, was among nine players at 65.

Lahiri hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation during his first round and had no less than five birdies, but he also gave away four bogeys to finish at 70 at the par-71 at the Trinity Forest.

READ: British Masters: Tough day for Indians; invitee Jordan leads with 63

He did open well with a nice approach shot to set up a birdie, which he converted. He saved a nice par despite missing the fairway on second but on the third he missed a nine-footer for par to drop a shot.

Two nice approaches on Par-5 14th and Par-4 16th fetched birdies and he was two-under.

He missed a seven-footer for par on 17th but that was quickly made up on Par-5 first as he benefitted from a free drop and then a good second shot and a chip for another birdie. Then a missed nine-footer for par on third meant only a par and then he left himself 14 feet for par and missed.

Once again he pulled himself up for a birdie on seventh, but on ninth, he went right and then left and a none-too-happy chip left him 28 feet for par and he two-putted for bogey.

Mukesh Kumar wins PGTI Players Championship

Seasoned golfer Mukesh Kumar produced a spectacular and error-free last round of seven-under-65 to win the TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship at Panchkula on Friday.

The 53-year-old from Mhow won by one shot with a total of 15-under-273 at Panchkula Golf Club.

The old warhorse Mukesh (70-67-71-65), who has over 100 titles to his credit in a 35-year-long career, claimed a record 20th title on the TATA Steel PGTI and thus ended a two-year winless streak.

The former Asian Tour winner had secured his last victory at the PGTI Cochin Masters in Kochi in April 2017. It was also Mukesh’s first triumph at the Panchkula Golf Club. His winning cheque worth Rs 4,84,950 lifted him from 11th to fourth place in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Mukesh, lying overnight tied third and two off the lead, was in the ascendancy from the start as he scored early birdies on the second, third and fifth courtesy some top-class wedge-play and overtook overnight leader Yashas Chandra of Mysuru.

Mukesh, who was playing to a plan of backing his strengths and executing it to perfection, began to truly stamp his authority when he holed his third shot from 100 yards for an eagle on the par-5 seventh. He was then relentless on the back-nine playing two more brilliant wedge shots to set up birdies on the 11th and 15th.

Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup: Madappa tied 13 in tough conditions, Gangjee makes cut

Viraj Madappa played steady golf in tough conditions over the back nine for an even par 71 to move into tied 13th at the midway stage of the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan on Friday.

Madappa, 21, who won his maiden Asian Tour title last year at home in Bengaluru at Take Solutions Masters, was one of the only two Indians to make the cut.

Rahil Gangjee, winner of the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan last year, was the other one. Gangjee, who had a disappointing opening round of 76, fought back brilliantly for a bogey-free two-under 69 to make the cut at three-over. He was tied 33rd.

The weekend cut fell at four-over par with 60 players making it into the final two rounds.

The rest of the Indians, Khalin Joshi (73-74), Ajeetesh Sandhu (76-72), Shiv Kapur (77-72), Jeev Milkha Singh (77-75), amateur Anant Singh Ahlawat (81-79) missed the cut. S Chikkrangappa withdrew after the first round.

Bhullar makes cut, Wallace leads at British Masters

Gaganjeet Bhullar played a brilliant second nine in the second round to make the cut comfortably while the other two Indians -- Shubhankar Sharma and SSP Chawrasia are set to exit from the British Masters.

Bhullar, even par on first day, shot 68 after being even through 10 holes. He had four birdies in last eight holes and is now four-under through two rounds and was tied 29th though the position could change as more player complete the second round.

With the cut likely at two-under, Sharma’s 72-79 left him way short and Chawrasia (72 and 4-over through 14) was also sure to miss out.

Meanwhile, the Hillside Golf Club resonated to some amazing play from Matt Wallace. Wallace (65-67) had a bogey free through 36 holes to set the target at 12-under.

He leads by one shot over fellow Englishman Ross Fisher (68-65) and Swede Niklas Lemke (69-64).

Three players, Thomas Detry (66 and 4-under through 11), Macus Kinhult (65 and 3-under through 9) and first round leader, Jordan (63 and 1-under through 9) were all at 10-under.

Starting at 10th place, Bhullar had three birdies and three bogeys on second day during the front nine.

Braving tough weather, Bhullar found things going his way with four birdies in eight holes to be four-under 140. Bhullar also had to endure a 72-minute stoppage break before the 18th, which he birdied on resumption.