July 30, 2016: Anirban Lahiri suffered a painful exit from the PGA Championship, missing the cut despite a determined effort at Baltusrol. A second straight 73 left him four shots adrift from the cut line which fell at 2-over 142. Robert Streb produced a memorable 63 to fire into a share of the lead with Jimmy Walker at 9-under 131. Jason Day and Emiliano Grillo were lying two back, tied in third spot.
Several stars fell through the sieve on a hot Friday in Baltusrol. Rory McIlroy made a valiant 69 as he fell just short of making the cut. Y E Yang, Chris Wood and Luke Donald were also out at three over 143.
Long drive competition winner Byeong Hun An made a pair of 72s to miss the weekend. J B Holmes and Vijay Singh also suffered a similar fate. Sergio Garcia and Shane Lowry also flew out of New Jersey at five over 145.
Billy Horschel, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee, Justin Rose and Charl Schwartzel made the weekend right on knife’s edge at 2-over 142.
Anirban had an inauspicious beginning to his second round, as he conceded back to back bogeys at 11 and 12. He did make a birdie at the 18th to turn in 37 shots, but fell into deeper trouble right after that.
Bogeys at the first and third holes slipped him to six over, effectively destroying any real chance of making the weekend. He played spirited golf to make six straight pars to end the week, but he left Baltusrol a disappointed man.
With the Olympics round the corner, Anirban will look to shake off the result in Baltusrol before sailing for Rio. He has been one of the few vocal advocates of Olympic golf and India will look up to Anirban, SSP Chawrasia and Aditi Ashok to bring home the honours.
