Anand Datla
July 02, 2016: Midway through the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, it is Jason Day who is in charge of the show at the Firestone Country Club. The Aussie added a battling 69 to his first round 67 for a one-stroke lead over David Lingmerth. Anirban Lahiri had to fight his own battles, eventually taking a 74 for a tied 22nd spot with three other golfers.
Day was trailing William McGirt by three shots at the end of the first round, but the Memorial winner made a 74 on Friday to slip down the order.
Day signed off with a bogey at the 18th that bothered him a bit, but two late birdies in the round helped him to a one under score of 69.
“I was very cross with myself when I was walking off,” explained Day. “The great thing is that once I do silly things like that on 18, I soon forget about it, and I just need to start focusing on tomorrow’s round.
“But I know that I’m putting good because I’m holing putts. And if I can give myself the opportunities, I’m hoping that I can stretch that lead over 54 holes, and then hopefully by 72 holes, I can stretch that lead even more.”
Jordan Spieth is lying three shots back after posting a 71 on Friday. The two time major champion has been criticized recently for his slow pace of play.
“The quicker part actually helps me because then I just get up there and fire away,” assured Spieh. “The more I can do that, actually I think the better off – kind of gun slinging mentality, just to go up and hit the way I always have played.”
Anirban played well in patches, but the wind was up, making the Firestone course a tough challenge.
The lone Indian on the PGA TOUR negated bogeys at the first and fourth holes with birdies at the second and sixth holes.
But a third bogey at the ninth hole meant that Anirban slipped over par again right on the turn.
A second successive bogey followed when the wind carried Anirban’s tee shot into the left rough at the tenth hole.
Lahiri made a birdie at the 13th hole to correct back to one over, but three conceded shots in the last four holes pushed him down to 2-over through 36 holes.
