India’s Anirban Lahiri overcame a sluggish begin to hearth a strong 4-under 68 and lie three strokes off the early first spherical lead on the Valero Texas Open right here.
Lahiri, who was the runner-up in a dramatic end at THE PLAYERS Championship three weeks in the past, was 1-over by means of 10 holes at TPC San Antonio earlier than coming house with 5 birdies, thanks largely to a scorching putter.
Scotland’s Russell Knox opened with a 65 to guide the $8.6 million PGA Tour occasion.
The 34-year-old Lahiri is trying to win a primary profession title within the US after coming agonisingly shut on the Tour’s flagship match at TPC Sawgrass, and victory on Sunday would additionally safe a spot in subsequent week’s Masters Tournament.
“Today was about looking for the identical form of rhythm to my routine, rhythm to how I used to be swinging the membership.
“The body still feels a bit rusty. When I started, it was a bit cold and there was bit of moisture on the surface and I was trying to get a good feel and speed of the greens,” mentioned Lahiri on Thursday.
“I definitely wanted to get back into my rhythm after being away and battling an infection I picked up from my daughter. I was laid off in bed for a few days and didn’t play that much golf but I didn’t really hit a lot of bad shots.”
Starting from the tenth, Lahiri navigated his opening 10 holes with two bogeys in opposition to a lone birdie earlier than his putter began to search out its vary.
He rolled in a nine-footer on the second, a 23-footer on the fifth after which nailed three successive birdies from 9, 18 and 30 toes respectively to shut out his spherical in model.
“On the again 9, I discovered the pace of the greens. I’ve performed this course fairly a bit and I perceive the character of this course.
“You attempt to simply put your self in good positions and locations the place you may make aggressive swings and aggressive putts. If you are able to do that, you may make a few birdies.
“The putter got a little warmer and it was a nice bonus on the last to get a long one which feels really good,” mentioned Lahiri, who completed solo fifth at TPC San Antonio final season.
Despite his stellar end at THE PLAYERS, Lahiri intends to maintain his foot on the pedal a bid to regain his place amongst golf’s elite. He was ranked as excessive as thirty third on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2015 and featured within the Presidents Cup twice for the International Team.
“The PLAYERS Championship was incredible and it is previously now. It’s time to maneuver on and attempt to be within the current which was just about what I did.
“I’m just trying to do the same, stay in the present, stay in the now, do what I need to do, what I need to feel, what I need to work on. I’m just trying to get back to that and it’s nice to see my golf responding,” mentioned Lahiri.
South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and CT Pan of Chinese Taipei bought off to good begins on the Valero Texas Open with matching 69s.
Despite lacking six greens in regulation, Pan, who’s a one-time Tour winner, stored the bogeys off his card whereas Kim posted 5 birdies in opposition to two bogeys.
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, who will defend his Masters title subsequent week, opened with a 74 in what’s his first look since withdrawing from THE PLAYERS Championship as a consequence of a again harm.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
