Anirban Lahiri is tied second with fellow countryman Chiragh Kumar right behind at third spot at the Venetian Macau Open. Lahiri had a round of 68, and picked his second eagle of the tournament to wrap up twenty one under 201 for three rounds. He chipped in for eagle on eighth from about 20 yards to the pin. Hit a good chip and it went it. Kumar who battled a stiff neck closed with eleven under 202 is a stroke behind and right after is Khan ten under par 203. Scott Hend is the leader with a fifteen under 198.
Lahiri called it a day of some struggles. “I think all day, it was a struggle on the greens. For a tough day, I’ll take a 68 any time. I needed that eagle, I had no momentum on the front nine. It wasn’t ideal to drop a shot on two which was an easy hole and I needed that. It got my round going in the right direction. I played really good for the rest of the day but I didn’t make any putts.”
“I’ve got five or six different putting gadgets out there and I think I’m just going to up a tent here and live here tonight. It was very frustrating. It wasn’t the greens. Some holes, a little bit to do with the greens getting dry and crusty but most of it was just me. It was really frustrating. I’m glad I hit it to six inches on 14 and six inches on 16. That was the only way I could get the ball into the hole. It was very frustrating.”
Kumar played good on the front nine. “But on the back nine, it was a bit tough. I woke up with a stiff neck and it just jammed up a bit on me on the back nine. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow but Scott is playing really well.”
Hend who is the leader after three rounds is going to have some stiff competition from the Indians on his heels. Lahiri shares, “Hendy and me have played so much golf together, we’re good friends and we both want to win. So it’ll be interesting. Honestly I’m really looking forward to it”
Khan who shot 65 in R2, finished with a 68 for R3. Lahiri was all praises for his putting. “He is putting great. Maybe I should take a lesson from him.”
