Doral bites Anirban Lahiri again

Report by Anand Datla

March 07, 2015: Anirban Lahiri has his task cut out at the Trump National Doral. It is a demanding course and at eight over, he needed a good second round more than most at the WGC Cadillac Championships. Lahiri made a tremendous effort to remain even for the day through 13 holes of the second round, but a double at the 14th and two consecutive bogeys to finish the day dropped him back to 12-over 156.

At the par-5 first hole, Anirban drove 285 yards into the fairway bunker to the right. His second shot travelled on 151 yards before settling in another sandpit, about 166 yards from the flag. Lahiri made it three in a row when he sank his third shot in the bunker behind the green. He chipped out to the green from there, before two putting to start his day with a bogey.

On the second hole, Anirban managed to sail 320  yards but found himself lodged in the rough to the right. He made the green from there, using a short iron to cover 141 yards. Anirban did well with his third shot, just passing the flag from 71 ft to settle for a well earned par.

The 34th ranked golfer found the bunker again with his second shot at the next hole. From the green side bunker, Anirban chipped to within 7 feet of the pin to settle for another par.

Anirban made the green with his tee shot at the par-3 fourth hole, but his putt fell inches short to leave him with a third straight par. The 27 year old landed in the green side bunker to the left with his second shot on the fifth hole. He went up and down in two shots from there to make a par again.

He found the rough to the left of the fairway on the sixth hole, but played well from there to ensure he did not suffer any further damage to his card. The Indian suffered a similar fate at the seventh when he found the light rough to the left of the green with his second shot, but managed to make another par to remain at one over for the round.

Just before making the turn though, Anirban played near perfect golf to reach within four feet of the pin with his third shot. He sank the birdie putt to get even with the course, at least for the day.

But misery befell the Indian, when he was forced to take a drop in the left rough of the 14th hole where he made a six to cough up two shots. Another two were extracted off his bag at the 17th and 18th as Lahiri finished at 4-over for the day and +12 overall, with two rounds left to play.

But Lahiri is man with the guts for prolonged battle. He will resume on Saturday with a keen intent to correct the measures on his card.