Press Trust of India
Dubai, Nov 21: Anirban Lahiri battled for a good part of the day but managed to keep himself afloat with three birdies over the last five holes to finish even par and stayed at four-under for 54 holes at the DP World Tour Championships golf here Saturday.
Starting the day at overnight 23rd place, Lahiri with a total of 212 slipped to tied-35th. Andy Sullivan, who went into joint lead after first day, has stayed in sole lead thereafter. Unable to find birdies the way he did during his 66-66 start on first two days, he still managed four-under 68 with a late burst that saw birdies on 15th and 17th holes.
At 16-under, he is one clear of last year’s Race to Dubai winner, Rory McIlroy (65) and three ahead of Patrick Reed (68), who is in the third place.
Lahiri, who was in obvious discomfort because of his knee, where an old ailment to have flared up, said: “It was a weird day, as I struggled a bit with my knee. I don’t think it is bad, but I have to go and see it, when I get back. I have one more start and then I will get some good rest and work on my rehab.”
Despite the discomfort, Lahiri nailed as many as six birdies. He though gave away four bogeys and a double bogey. “As I said, I am not playing bad. I got six birdies, and missed a couple of makeable birdie putts like on 17th from eight feet,” he pointed out.
