Taking part in in his second Olympics, India’s Anirban Lahiri bought off to a strong begin, carding a 4-under 67 within the first spherical to be positioned tied sixth on the weather-hit Tokyo Video games golf competitors on the Kasumigaseki Nation Membership right here on Thursday.
The previous Asian Tour No. 1 struck six birdies in opposition to two bogeys in a discipline by which many gamers had been but to complete their rounds due to a lightning storm on the venue.
The opposite Indian, Udayan Mane, who made the sphere of 60 at a late stage, additionally had a nice begin and he was 1-under via 10 holes. He was T-30 although his place will change because the spherical ends.
The sector was led by Austrian Sepp Straka, who got here into the Video games after six missed cuts in final seven begins.
He equalled an Olympic file of 8-under 63. Straka lipped out his birdie try on the 18th that might have created a brand new file.
Straka, ranked 161st on the planet, equalled the file set by Matt Kuchar (US) and Marcus Fraser of Australia, who shot 63 within the 2016 Rio Video games when golf returned to the Olympics for the primary time in additional than a century.
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Mexican Carlos Ortiz shot 6-under 65 every, whereas Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond was additionally 6-under with three holes left when play was stopped resulting from harmful climate within the space.
Lahiri, coming off a 3rd place in Barbasol Championships on the PGA Tour, was pleased with the beginning.
“It was good. I began off slightly dodgy first few holes, couldn’t get my rhythm going early. However then I settled down properly. I most likely really feel like I might have taken some extra possibilities, some alternatives on the again 9 I didn’t make as many birdies as I might have.
“However I’m enjoying properly, so I’ve to construct on this and as you may see already there’s loads of alternatives if it retains enjoying like this, mushy, there’s not a lot rain in the present day, then it’s a must to go on the market and simply actually be aggressive and make loads of putts.” Lahiri managed good follow too, which helped him on day one of many competitors.
“I bought a full 36 in, 9 each day the 4 days main as much as the occasion, so I felt fairly comfy on the golf course. Clearly the match setup’s going to be slightly completely different however I really feel prefer it wasn’t as arduous as they may make it.” “Right now we barely had any wind, so day to exit and take benefit. The greens are stunning, they’re excellent, they’re rolling nice, golf course is immaculate,” he mentioned.
Lahiri shrugged off a bogey begin on the primary by later sinking some big putts. Two of his birdies on the ninth and fifteenth got here from 28 toes.
He had an excellent run of 4 birdies in 5 holes from fifth to ninth. Then he had back-to-back birdies on the fifteenth and sixteenth and closed with two pars. His dropped photographs got here on first and twelfth.
Among the many world stars, who didn’t have an ideal begin, former World No. 1 Justin Thomas began with an even-par 71, whereas 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama shot 2-under 69.
Rory McIlroy was 1-under with 5 holes left, whereas former World No. 1 Justin Thomas had all 18 pars in his 71.
Reigning British Open champion Collin Morikawa was 2-under via 11 holes and Patrick Reed was 4-under via 10 holes.
Again in 2016, Lahiri, coming off an harm had completed 57th out of 60 gamers, and is eager on making amends for that end result. PTI
