Lahiri makes modest start at RBC Heritage

Hilton Head (US): Returning to action after a gap of three weeks, Anirban Lahiri was unable to build on a superb start, finishing with one-over 72 on a blustery morning to lie 77th after the first round of the RBC Heritage here.

Lahiri, who has been struggling this season with just one Top-10 in 11 starts, began well when he sank a 20-footer for birdie on the first hole.

The Indian then hit good second and third shots on the par-5 second to get with 27 inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie and go two-under in two. Thereafter his play was patchy, as he hit only eight of the 18 greens in regulation.

On the par-5 fifth, he hit his tee shot into the fairway bunker, followed by getting into another fairway bunker. He hit his fourth shot to the green and two-putted for a bogey.

Lahiri went into the water on seventh and after a drop, he hit to eighth feet for a bogey, thus wiping out both his early birdies.

On the Par-4 473 yard eighth, Lahiri went to right rough but got to eight feet with his third shot, but he missed the par putt. He turned in one-over.