CareerBuilder Challenge: Lahiri fires 64 to zoom to Tied-13th

Anirban Lahiri fired an error-free eight-under 64 as the putts dropped nicely for once this week to zoom up from overnight 69th to a highly creditable Tied-13th at the end of the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge here.

Anirban Lahiri got going with eight birdies and no bogeys to improve by 56 places and raise hopes of a second Top-10 finish this season.

Anirban Lahiri fired an error-free eight-under 64 as the putts dropped nicely for once this week to zoom up from overnight 69th to a highly creditable Tied-13th at the end of the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge here.

Lahiri, who was unable to get the momentum going on first two days, when he carded 69 and 72 finally got going with eight birdies and no bogeys to improve by 56 places and raise hopes of a second Top-10 finish this season.

While Lahiri shot 64, Canadian Adam Hadwin shot 13-under 59 to go into the lead.

It was the ninth sub-60 score in PGA Tour history.

Lahiri said, “It felt good to get some momentum today especially the last 10 holes. Have been playing well but dropping too many shots. Hopefully, can keep a clean card tomorrow and shoot a low score again.”

Lahiri recalled, “I really enjoy playing the La Quinta course. I shot an identical opening round last year.”

On his first two days he said, “I didn’t read the greens very well especially on PGA West. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a different story.”

Lahiri has had two fine finishes this 2016-17 season on the PGA where he was Tied-third in CIMB Classic and T-13 at RSM Classic.

He was also T-28 in Mayakoba, but missed the cut last week in Sony Open, Hawaii.

Hadwin is one shot ahead of Tour rookie Dominic Bozzelli.

Chad Campbell, the 2006 CareerBuilder champion, is two shots back, as are Bud Cauley and former Georgia teammates Hudson Swafford and Brian Harman.

Hadwin made six consecutive birdies from second to seventh, including a hole-out from off the fourth green.

He made the turn in 7-under 29 after birdieing the ninth hole, then made five consecutive birdies from 11th to 15th.

A birdie at 17th meant he only needed a par at the final hole for a 59.

There have now been nine sub-60 rounds in PGA TOUR history, including Jim Furyk’s 58 at last year’s Travelers Championship Bozzelli has shot 64-67-69 this week, including just a single bogey.

Hadwin was at 17-under 199 after starting the day tied for 49th at 4 under, a stroke below the eventual cut.

Phil Mickelson closed with a watery double bogey for a 73 on the Stadium Course, leaving him eight strokes back in his return from two sports hernia surgeries.

Even his caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay is also making a comeback after having both knees replaced.