Report by Anand Datla
March 07, 2015: A third straight day, Anirban Lahiri fought a grim battle with the exacting Trump National Doral golf course in the WGC Cadillac Championships. The Indian has been waging a war with himself and the course as he tries to leave an impression on his maiden journey to the PGA Tour. Lahiri showed marked improvement in the third round by working backwards after slipping to three over around the turn to nearly close his third round on even terms with the course. (Read more in Golf)
Lahiri gave away four bogeys – a hat-trick of those starting on the 8th to face yet another uphill ride on the course that has troubled him and other golfers this week. But in a heart warming turnaround, Lahiri showed great spirit to come back at the course with birdies at the 12th, 15th and 17th to get even with the Doral course.
It is another matter though, that Lahiri was made to bleed at the 18th hole. Lahiri suffered a penalty after a poor tee shot and struggled from there to surrender a double bogey to end an otherwise satisfactory day.
Of course, Lahiri only had a 74 to show for his hard work on Saturday. But the Indian has made progressive improvements this week as his scores of 80-76-74 attest.
The 34th ranked golfer made four birdies, nine pars, four bogeys and that double bogey at the 18th to remain firmly in the bottom rung of the leader board. But most importantly, Lahiri showed great courage and heart in his performance on Saturday.
While he will hope that his performance can improve further on Sunday – 50% greens in regulation was always going to be punished on a fiercely protected course where water and sand stand like eager sentinels waiting to punish the slightest waywardness.
Anirban though can draw strength from the manner in which he played on Saturday – exemplified best by his aggressive play at the 15th hole that helped his tee shot land barely 8 feet from the hole. He made a brilliant birdie from there, his third of the day to remind us of the class and pedigree of the golfer that is resident in him.
Let us hope that he has finally found the formulae to help him finish strong at the WGC Cadillac Championships on Sunday.
