Albany (The Bahamas), Dec 5 (IANS) India’s leading golfer Anirban Lahiri carded two-under 70 to drop four places be tied 14th on a two-day total of five-under 139 in the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge at the Albany Golf Course here.
The world No.39, playing on a special exemption in the 18-man field event, was on Friday six strokes behind joint leaders world No.1 Jordan Spieth (66), No.25 Jimmy Walker (67) and No.43 Bill Haas (66).
Lahiri’s card was marred by a double bogey on the par-four 18th and final hole. The 28-year-old got off to a flying start, birding the first and second holes before picking up another shot on the sixth hole.
The undisputed king of the Asian Tour 2015 moved to four-under for the day as he birdied the 10th hole. However, he got a bogey on the 12th that dropped him to three-under for the day.
The Bengaluru golfer was back on the right path for an impressive finish with a birdie on the 14th and three consecutive pars. But his round took a giant beating when he took six shots for the 18th and final hole that dropped him to two-under 70 for the day.
He shared the 14th spot with world No.23 J.B. Holmes of the United States, who added a 68 to his first round of 71.
Meanwhile, defending champion Spieth of the United States fired 66 to jump to a three-man field with compatriots Walker and Haas.
The 22-year-old Spieth he shot four birdies against two bogeys on the front-nine. The winner of this year’s two Majors — Augusta Masters and the US Open returned to shoot two more birdies and an eagle on the par-five 11th hole for a 66. He has a 36-hole total of 11-under 133.
One stroke behind him were world No.13 Patrick Reed (65), No.41 Chris Kirk (65) and No.4 Bubba Watson (67).
Opening day co-leaders, world No.24 Paul Casey (70) of England and No.11 Zach Johnson (70) of the US dropped six places to go even with No.19 Matt Kuchar.
World No.No.8 Dustin Johnson (69), No.17 Brooks Koepka (70) and No.10 Adam Scott (70) shared the 10th spot on 137.
World No.6 Rickie Fowler (68) of the US was 13th on 138, followed by Lahiri and Holmes at 14th.
World No.36 Billy Horschel (70) was 16th, while No.5 Justin Rose (even-par 72) of England was 17th and No.14 Hideki Matsuyama of Japan scored one-over 73 to his first round total of 75 to be 18th.
