Anirban slips to 4-over after R3

Report by Anand Datla

April 11, 2015: After a stellar start on Thursday, Anirban Lahiri has been engrossed in a very intense battle with an unforgiving course at the Augusta National Golf Club. At the end of the third round of The Masters, Lahiri conceded two more shots to slip to 4-over through 54 holes. The 27 year old Indian has shot 71-75-74 in the first three rounds for 54-hole total of 220 shots. Unfortunately for Lahiri, the outcome was rather disappointing, with his short game deserting him at crucial moments through an engaging third round.

Despite embracing great discipline and commitment, Anirban is learning the great challenges of the PGA Tour. He has been punished this week for the slightest error in line. Even with the short game, the Indian is learning the need for pinpoint accuracy, bleeding two putts from seemingly comfortable situations.

On a largely event-less third day, a double bogey at the seventh proved to be his undoing. He also made a birdie at the 12th hole to offset a bogey at the previous hole. But for most of the day, Anirban went about his journey with a monk like calm and focus, minimising any risk by playing as sensibly as possible in an event of this magnitude.

After making six straight pars, Lahiri stumbled for the first time at the seventh hole. After a good tee shot at the Pampas, Anirban found the middle bunker to the right of the green. He chipped out from the sand to within 12 feet from the pin. But as inexplicable as it might be, he took three shots from there to surrender his first shots of the day, two of them at once.

At the par-4 White Dogwood, the eleventh hole, Anirban flew slightly right with 302 yard tee shot. But he did well with his second to reach the green, stopping about 18 feet from the flag. Yet again, Lahiri took three shots from there to surrender a bogey, slipping to five over with seven left to play.

The Golden Bell at the 12th, a 155 yard par-3 provided much needed relief to the fighting Indian. Sailing 139 yards, Anirban’s tee shot left him just ten feet to the hole. For once, Lahiri made the putt to  draw one back from the course. And that is where he would end his round, just as he had begun – with six straight pars.

Lahiri though will have noted that his short game has been getting progressively worse this week, costing him perhaps a more impressive position on the leaderboard. He started the first round with a putting average of 1.67, which slipped to 1.71 in the 2nd round before sliding further to 1.83 in the third round.

Interestingly, Lahiri got better with his fairway game, despite slipping down on Saturday. After making 8 and 7 of 14 fairways in the first two rounds, the world No. 34 improved to 9 of 14 in the third round. It was also impressive that Lahiri made 12 of 18 greens in regulation, which was far superior than the 9 he made in the second round.

But with his putter threatening to desert him, Lahiri is fighting a losing battle. He will surely hope to regain some of his putting time just in time for the final round.