Lahiri slips to tied 14th on Day 2 of Hero World Challenge

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri failed to capitalise on a good opening round and slipped to end Day 2 of the Hero World Challenge at tied 14th even as World No.1 Jordan Spieth grabbed a share of the three-way lead.
Lahiri, who ended the opening day on three-under 69 to be tied 10th, made some good moves but a double bogey on the 18th gave him a 70 and he was six shots behind at the Albany Championship Club.
Lahiri, who was paired with Chris Kirk on Friday, has an overall score of five-under so far and hopes for resurrection come Day 3.

Getting a sponsor's exemption in the PGA-sanctioned event, Lahiri started with a birdie on the first hole but somehow lost momentum as the round progressed.
Though the 28-year-old golfer from Bengaluru has JB Fowler for company before the penultimate round, but the upcoming star would be hoping for a better showing in the Elite 18-player strong field.
"If my mom had putted, she would have shot 65," Lahiri said.

But the star of the day was once again defending champion Spieth, who dominated the play with his top skills to be tide for top spot with Bill Haas -- another exemption player - and Jimmy Walker.

Spieth, whose hole-in-one in Round 1 remained the shot of the day, battled a rugged start with three straight birdies, and then a surge on the back nine carried him to a six-under 66.
Spieth shot up the leaderboard with an eagle on the par-5 11th hole from about 30 feet. He followed with two more birdies to get a share of the lead.
With the table-toppers at 11-under 133, Patrick Reed (65), Chris Kirk (65) and Bubba Watson (67) were one shot behind.
"So I've got a little bit to work on but everything feels good," said the 22-year-old player after the day's play.

The young sensation is also enjoying his stay in the serene islands, while taking care of his play on the course.
"Certainly when we're on the golf course I'm definitely up there. I'm just talking about off the course preparation has been half vacation, half preparation.
"But on the golf course, I mean I'm still getting as intense and upset and highs and lows that I experience at a normal PGA TOUR event. It's a little more fun because it's easier, you have two guys and we're playing faster and only 18 in the field, so it eases your mind a little bit, but the grind is still there," he said.

It was a calm and muggy afternoon in the islands and the winds were not strong enough, which reflected in the scoring.
On the course, which is very popular on the PGA Tour, he added, "I think the golf course is really good. I think it's a good track because it rewards good shots and it does penalize you if you hit it in the wrong spots like I did find out a couple of times today."
Lahiri wearing purple trousers and a purple reptile belt, had the crowed chanting, "Purple" at the Coliseum-like Par-3 16th hole. He picked a birdie after hitting his tee shot to just over four feet. He laughed and said, "It's a special hole. It makes it special when you make 2 there. The crowd gets behind you. God help me if you make 4 or 5. Let's hope I keep playing there in 2."

"That hole is obviously quite special. The people make it so. It was nice to make a 2. Just to hear the crowd chanting "purple" was a little weird and strange, but I enjoyed it," he added. "Well, I like to be colorful on the golf course. And I love wearing what I'm wearing. It makes me look good and feel good."
The morning start was delayed by a little over half and hour because of frost, Lahiri was alright with it despite the cold.
Lahiri rounded off the day with a nice up-and-down and said, "Yes, it was nice to get out of jail there. Obviously put it in the wrong spot on the tee but left myself a nice pitch, had the wind coming back. Yeah, I hit it really good."

Fowler was happy with his putting and said, "Just didn't make anything last week," he said. "That was the hardest thing was getting any rhythm or momentum going when you can't make anything."
Mickelson was five-under for his first nine, but then a bogey-triple bogey on fourth and fifth tripped him to a final two-under 69.
The frost delay in the morning meant a one-hour delay and that led to 33 players being unable to finish the opening round.