Masterful 1st round by Anirban Lahiri
11 April 2015 10:10 PM GMT
Lahiri, who had two birdies, one on each side of the famed Augusta National Golf Club, also had one bogey in his first appearance at the Masters. Playing extremely steady through the day and riding a couple of favourable bounces, Lahiri also made some fine par saves during his round.
“I will take it (the score on first day), but now the first day is done and dusted and now I am focused on the second and hopefully the weekend from there on,” said the 27-year-old Lahiri, who won two co-sanctioned events in a span of three weeks in February this year.
The top 50 and ties and all those within 10 shots of the leader make the cut for the weekend rounds.
A total of 98 players set for the 79th edition and it included 20 first-timers, 19 past champions and seven amateurs. Leading the field was Jordan Spieth, winner of the 2014 World Challenge, who shot 64 and he was three shots ahead of Charley Hoffman, Justin Rose, Jason Day and four-time Major winner, Ernie Els, all of whom shot 67 each.
Tied with Lahiri at 18th were the likes of Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and legendary 65-year-old Tom Watson. Tiger Woods shot one-over 73 and was tied 41st and Phil Mickelson was tied 12th with 70. Interestingly, Lahiri’s 71 is the best round by an Indian at the Masters, equalling Jeev Milkha Singh’s effort in 2008.
Lahiri began with a string of seven pars before finding his first Masters birdie on the eighth and he had a second birdie on the 16th and he dropped just one shot when he three-putted on the ninth. Lahiri handled his starting nerves very well. He opened with a 280-yard drive to the edge of the fairway bunker but recovered well from there to get his par from six feet.
“I will take it (the score on first day), but now the first day is done and dusted and now I am focused on the second and hopefully the weekend from there on,” said the 27-year-old Lahiri, who won two co-sanctioned events in a span of three weeks in February this year.
The top 50 and ties and all those within 10 shots of the leader make the cut for the weekend rounds.
A total of 98 players set for the 79th edition and it included 20 first-timers, 19 past champions and seven amateurs. Leading the field was Jordan Spieth, winner of the 2014 World Challenge, who shot 64 and he was three shots ahead of Charley Hoffman, Justin Rose, Jason Day and four-time Major winner, Ernie Els, all of whom shot 67 each.
Tied with Lahiri at 18th were the likes of Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and legendary 65-year-old Tom Watson. Tiger Woods shot one-over 73 and was tied 41st and Phil Mickelson was tied 12th with 70. Interestingly, Lahiri’s 71 is the best round by an Indian at the Masters, equalling Jeev Milkha Singh’s effort in 2008.
Lahiri began with a string of seven pars before finding his first Masters birdie on the eighth and he had a second birdie on the 16th and he dropped just one shot when he three-putted on the ninth. Lahiri handled his starting nerves very well. He opened with a 280-yard drive to the edge of the fairway bunker but recovered well from there to get his par from six feet.
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