July 07, 2018: As much of India obsesses with an intriguingly poised World Cup, Anirban Lahiri gave the parched golf fans something to cheer this weekend. The 31-year-old produced one of the best rounds of golf by an Indian on the PGA TOUR, scoring nine under 61 in the second round of A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. Anirban is just one shot from the leader Kelly Kraft, who is at 13-under 131 through 36 holes.
Anirban is sharing space at T2 with Webb Simpson, who made a 61 in the first round. Jason Kokrak is alone in fouth followed by Whee Kim and Harold Varner III, who are tied in the fifth place at the halfway stage.
Anirban has been striking the ball great this week and it reflected in his numbers. He made all 18 greens in regulation and gained 5.351 strokes with his putting, against the week’s average of 3.186
The 99th ranked Indian was on the wheels straight off the bat on Friday. At the 385-yard par-4 10th hole, Anirban reached the green with his approach and nailed a 16-foot putt for birdie.
On the par-par-4 11th, he was again on the green in two and sank a 12 footer for birdie to add to his confidence early in the day.
The 12th has been the easiest of all the holes this week. But Anirban needed to putt from 20 feet out and he did so without any fuss to make it three in a row.
Anirban found the fairway bunker on the 401-yard par-4 14th hole. But that did not hinder his approach and he set it up nicely for a birde from 14 feet.
Anirban had an opportunity to make it five birdies in six holes, but fell inches short on the 229-yard par-3 15th, missing a putt from 8-feet.
He made the turn in 32 shots. The birdie service resumed soon after, as he hit a 139 yard approach shot to within 2 feet of the flag on the par-4 second hole.
Anirban’s tee shot at the 205-yard par-3 third, left him needing to cover 18 feet to the pin. He sank that putt to move to 6-under for the round.
The putter was singing relentlessly and Anirban completed his second hattrick of the day with a monstrous 22 footer for birdie.
As he approached the end of his round, Anirban continued to impress with some bold golf. He made his eighth birdie of the round when he sank one from 20 feet at the 234-yard par-3 eighth hole.
At his last hole for the day, Anirban found the rough on the right with his tee shot. But after playing a solid approach that sailed 150 yards, Anirban signed off with a 13 footer to secure a memorable 61.
The score emulates the 61 scored by Arjun Atwal at the Wyndham Championship in 2010 and sets Anirban up nicely in his quest for a maiden PGA TOUR title.
“I’ve been feeling good over the last two weeks,” Lahiri said. “I’ve seen the improvement on the golf course and I’ve tried to plug the gaps that I’ve found over the last two weeks. And I’m happy that more than anything else I haven’t dropped a shot. But I’m not thinking about that. The focus is just to put myself in the best position that I can, and that’s a big positive for me.”
Anirban’s best finish on the PGA TOUR is his second place finish at the Memorial last year. The Greenbrier is the Indian’s 78th start on the circuit. As he rediscovers his best form, Anirban has already enjoyed three top ten finishes this season – CIMB Classic (T10), THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES (T5) and Travelers Championship (T9).
However, he will be satisfied with nothing short of a much valued PGA TOUR addition to his collection of 18 international victories.