21 July,2017 07:39 AM IST | Southport | Agencies
Anirban Lahiri's putter deserted him on the opening day of the 146th Open Championships, while Shiv Kapur, who seemed to be coming towards a decent finish, dropped two late bogeys
Lahiri during The Open at Royal Birkdale yesterday. Pic/AFP
Anirban Lahiri's putter deserted him on the opening day of the 146th Open Championships, while Shiv Kapur, who seemed to be coming towards a decent finish, dropped two late bogeys. Both the Indians ended with identical three-over-par 73s in the opening rounds yesterday at the Royal Birkdale.
Lahiri, who had four pars before his first birdie on fifth, had a disappointing middle segment of the round as he dropped six shots between sixth and 13th, including four in a row from 10th to 13th.
A 25-footer for an eagle on 17th was the brightest part of the day apart from birdies on fifth and 14th. Jordan Spieth, who has two Majors from 2015 took a step towards his third one with a superb five-under 65 that gave him a share of the early lead with Brooks Koepka, the latest Major champion from the US Open last month. Matt Kuchar, who is still looking for his maiden Major was five-under through nine holes and looking very strong following a 29 for the opening nine.
Tough conditions
On the opening day, the conditions expectedly were tough cross winds between 12-16 miles per hour and gusts that made it difficult to handle the shots and select clubs. It was also wet just as it is usual for Opens. Ian Poulter, who was second when the Open was last held at this course in 2009, shot three-under 67 as did Justin Thomas and Richard Bland.
Lahiri said: "I wasn't hitting fairways and greens and I was out of rhythm. When you don't do that, you will struggle to put up a score. I should have only dropped at least two shots instead of six but I didn't have the touch I needed on and off the greens."
"My putter let me down. I left myself in good positions to get up-and-down but I wasn't sharp. I think I had six misses from inside six feet. I fought back a little bit but was very disappointed to bogey the last from a good position."
Kapur's challenge
Kapur got off to a steady start before hitting a disappointing triple bogey on the par-three seventh hole. "It was going well but I triple bogeyed the seventh and that derailed my round. Out here, you obviously need to avoid the big numbers. Holding the round together is a challenge here and I didn't do that," said Kapur.
