Lahiri slips to tied 14th on Day 2 of Hero World Challenge

"If my mom had putted, she would have shot (a round of) 65." These words from Anirban Lahiri brought forth his exasperation after a double-bogey on the final hole undid part of the good work he did through the second round of the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge here.

Anirban Lahiri will hope for resurrection come Day 3.

“If my mom had putted, she would have shot (a round of) 65.”

These words from Anirban Lahiri brought forth his exasperation after a double-bogey on the final hole undid part of the good work he did through the second round of the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge here.

Like on the opening day, Friday produced a series of low scores with Lahiri’s two-under 70 not proving good enough. He slipped from overnight joint-10{+t}{+h} to now tied 14{+t}{+h} and six strokes.

At the top of the heap, World No. 1 and defending champion Jordan Spieth produced a hat-trick of birdies and a 30-foot ‘eagle’ in his 66 to join Bill Hass and Jimmy Walker at 11-under 133. In fact at one stage, the round saw seven players in the lead.

Chris Kirk and Patrick Reed equalled the course record of 65 to share the fourth spot with Bubba Watson, a stroke behind the leaders.

Lahiri may have carded a second sub-par round but that did not lessen the disappointment that came after he missed numerous chances. “It was a 70 that felt like an 80,” said Lahiri.

Lahiri hit the ball well and fired birdies on first, third and sixth holes to look in great touch. However, a missed birdie-putt from under five feet on the seventh hole and a regulation up-and-down on the ninth shook his confidence.

“I hit the ball as well as anyone. I should have been in double digits and I’m not even close to it. The putts just did not fall. This should have been a 65,” said Lahiri and added, “I need to do some putting drills and need to get that confidence back in it.

Although Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama remained the only player in search of a par round, Billy Horschel produced a rare card. The American had a bogey-free round with eight birdies. However, a double-bogey on the second hole and a quadruple-bogey 9 on the 11th gave him a card of 70 for the 16th spot.

The scores:

Jordan Spieth (U.S.A.) (67, 66), Bill Hass (U.S.A.) (67, 66), Jimmy Walker (66, 67) 133; Chris Kirk (U.S.A.) (69, 65), Patrick Reed (U.S.A.) (69, 65), Bubba Watson (U.S.A.) (67, 67) 134; Matt Kuchar (U.S.A.) (70, 66), Paul Casey (Eng) (66, 70), Zach Johnson (U.S.A.) (66, 70) 136; Dustin Johnson (U.S.A.) (68, 69), Brooks Koepka (U.S.A.) (67, 70), Adam Scott (Aus) (67, 70) 137; Rickie Fowler (U.S.A.) (70, 68), 138; J. B. Holmes (U.S.A.) (71, 68), Anirban Lahiri (Ind) (69, 70) 139; Billy Horschel (U.S.A.) (71, 70) 141; Justin Rose (Eng) (71, 72) 143; Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) (75, 73) 148.