Rousing start for Anirban Lahiri at Waste Management Phoenix Open

Anirban Lahiri shot 66 in the first round at TPC Scottsdale

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Anirban Lahiri shot an even 71 in the third round of the Phoenix Open

February 05, 2016: Anirban Lahiri got off to a rousing start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, flying to three under within the first four holes of his first round at the TPC Scottsdale. Eventually the top ranked Indian produced a brilliant five under 66 to be lying behind Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama, who all shot 65 to take the lead.

Since flying over to the USA from his outing in Malaysia for the Eurasia Cup, Lahiri has been a busy golfer. He finished T28 at the CareerBuilder Challenger before an 80 cost him the cut last week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Lahiri made a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th hole to get his round going to hot start. At the par-5 15th hole, Anirban suffered a setback when he signed on a six, but rebounded strongly with a pair of birdies.

He made the turn to the first hole in just 32 shots and though a bogey at the first hole threatened to derail him, Lahiri did well to add two more birdies for a solid finish to the first day.

Fowler was seven under through the 15th hole, where he made an eagle. But he gave away two late shots – at the 16th and 18th – despite which he afforded himself a 65 for a three way tie in the lead.

Keeping him company are Lowry and Matsuyama. Lowry was only one under through the front nine, but added five birdies on a fluent run through the return stretch to propel him into a share of the lead.

Japanese Matsuyama had a bogey each on the way out and in, but played well for the most part. He shot eight birdies overall to put himself into the contending pack.

Bryce Molder was edging up the order, before bad light forced the first round to be suspended. Molder had to complete his 8th and 9th holes, but he was error free through the round and lying at five under alongside Lahiri.

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