Lahiri shoots 65 to be Tied-fourth, one stroke behind leaders in Mexico

Lahiri, whose last card of 65 came at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, while finishing T-6, had four birdies and an eagle and no bogeys.

Published : Nov 09, 2018 17:18 IST

Lahiri started on the back nine and birdied 13th and 15th and added further gains on second and fourth with birdies before landing an eagle on Par-5 fifth and parred the rest for a 65 at the Par-71 course. (File Photo)
Lahiri started on the back nine and birdied 13th and 15th and added further gains on second and fourth with birdies before landing an eagle on Par-5 fifth and parred the rest for a 65 at the Par-71 course. (File Photo)
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Lahiri started on the back nine and birdied 13th and 15th and added further gains on second and fourth with birdies before landing an eagle on Par-5 fifth and parred the rest for a 65 at the Par-71 course. (File Photo)

Anirban Lahiri shot his best round in over three months with a six-under 65 to be placed Tied-4th at the end of the first round at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Lahiri, whose last card of 65 came at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, while finishing T-6, had four birdies and an eagle and no bogeys.

He is one shot behind the three players, who share the lead.

Matt Kuchar, who decided at the last minute to play the Mayakoba Classic, missed only two fairways at the El Camaleon Golf Club, while shooting seven-under 64 that gave him a share of the lead with Dominic Bozzelli and PGA TOUR rookie Kramer Hickok.

Lahiri started on the back nine and birdied 13th and 15th and added further gains on second and fourth with birdies before landing an eagle on Par-5 fifth and parred the rest for a 65 at the Par-71 course.

Kuchar has gone more than four years since his last PGA TOUR victory. His 64 was his lowest opening round on TOUR since a 64 in the 2017 Phoenix Open.

Jordan Spieth playing his second straight week in the fall —and his last tournament before his wedding — Spieth traded birdies and bogeys and had to settle for an even-par 71, leaving him in need to a good round Friday just to stick around for the weekend.

Hickok also played college golf at Texas and lived with Spieth in Dallas until a few months ago, when all the roommates had to find other arrangements as Spieth prepares for his marriage to Annie Verret.

Among those in the large group at 65 apart from Lahiri was Abraham Ancer, whose tie for fourth last week in Las Vegas moved him to No. 98 in the world, making him the first Mexican golfer to crack the top 100 in the world ranking.

Also at 65 were Bud Cauley as he returns from a car accident at the Memorial Tournament in early June, defending champion Patton Kizzire, who made back-to-back eagles on the par-5 fifth hole and by holing out on the par-4 sixth.

Kuchar has slipped to No. 40 in the world, failed to reach the third round of the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in a decade and did not play in the Ryder Cup for the first time in 10 years

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