Quicken Loans Nationals – Anirban Lahiri endures a rough third round

Anirban Lahiri shot 75 in the third round at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda

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Anirban Lahiri shot 75 in the third round at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda

Anand Datla

June 26, 2016: After a couple of 71s, including a brilliant last gasp effort to make the cut on Friday, Anirban Lahiri hit a rough patch in the third round of the Quicken Loans National. The front nine of the Congressional Country Club course took the Indian golfer to task, forcing four bogeys in the first six holes on Saturday. Anirban slipped to 4-over 217 essentially due to his 75 in the third round. The leaders were yet to hit the course at the time of our report.

Anirban sank in the fairway bunker with his first tee shot that sailed a good 276 yards. With the flag just 116 yards from there, Anirban played a conservative second shot before chipping onto the green with his third shot. He took two shots from there for his first of five bogeys on the day.

Putting has been a problem for Anirban in recent weeks and a three putt from inside twelve feet at the third hole dropped him to two over. A poor tee shot at the fifth hole left him scrambling in vain for a par.

At the par-5 sixth hole, Anirban sank his second shot in the water resulting in a penalty and eventually the fourth bogey of his round.

He battled back to make three consecutive pars to get past the front nine in four over with 40 strokes. Another three putt at the tenth hole left him conceding a fifth bogey.

But Anirban worked resolutely from there responding with a birdie at the eleventh and seven straight pars to end the round at 4-over 217.

Anirban is currently 58th in the Official World Golf Ranking and is lying 93rd in the FedexCup rankings. The top 125 qualify for the season ending FedexCup series.

Meanwhile Arjun Atwal was lying T58 through 54 holes. He slipped 22 spots on Saturday, making a 73 to end the day at an even par 213.

Arjun made three bogeys on the day, with his lone birdie coming at the par-4 12th hole.

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