Lahiri improves to tied 27th at FedExCup play-offs
ILLINOIS (USA): India’s Anirban Lahiri carded a three-under 68 to be placed tied 27th on the third day of the BMW Championships, the third leg of the FedExCup Play-offs at Conway Farms, here.
Lahiri, whose putting has let him down a fair bit over last few tournaments, missed at least three putts inside eight feet.
Yet his first round 67 and third round 68 have enabled him to get to seven-under 206 and improve to tied 27th place.
In the third round birdies on first, third, seventh and eighth against a bogey on fourth saw him turn in three-under.
On the back nine, there was one bogey on 12th and rest were pars till a closing birdie on 18th, where he had dropped shots on first and second days.
A good finish in the final round will set up Lahiri well for the Presidents’ Cup, which follows the Tour Championships next week.
Marc Leishman birdied the 18th green from a tough position for a three-under 68 and extended his lead to five shots over Jason Day and Rickie Fowler going into the final round.
Leishman, who was at 19-under 194, gets another chance to win a FedExCup Playoffs event and grab one of the top five seeds at the TOUR Championship next week.
The top seeds have a clear path to claim the USD 10 million bonus.
Leishman shared the 54-hole lead at the Dell Technologies Championship TPC Boston with Justin Thomas, who surged past Leishman and held off Jordan Spieth.
Fowler landed a 25-foot eagle from just short of the green on the opening hole but made only one birdie the rest of the way.
He missed putts from the 6-foot range on consecutive holes on the back nine, one of them for birdie.
Day pulled within two shots with a birdie at the turn, but played the back nine with eight pars and a bogey. He also had an iron for his second shot on the 18th, but it plugged into the side of the bunker.
ADITI MISSES CUT
EVIAN-LES-BAINS (FRANCE): Indian golfer Aditi Ashok carded a disappointing six-over 77 to crash out of the weather-hit Evian Championships, the fifth and final Major for women, here.
Aditi had an extremely rough outing to register her first oneover 72.
In the second round, Aditi had four bogeys and a double in conditions that have been tough through the week and the event reduced to 54 holes.
Moriya Jutanugarn, whose sister, Ariya, has been very successful for the last two years, has a chance to add a Major to her resume.
Thought it was Ariya who broke out first with five victories in 2016 including her first major title, this week Moriya chases her first career win she also has a chance to make history.