Anirban Lahiri survives roller-coaster round to make cut

India’s Anirban Lahiri had a roller-coaster ride for most part of the day but in the end managed to survive to ensure an action in the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament here.

Lahiri, who shot a superb five-under 65 in the second round went up-and-down throughout his the day with five birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey.

Lahiri, who was three-under and tied 59th at the end of the second round dropped to tied 68th as top 70 and ties made the 54-hole cut, which was applied as more than 78 players made it past the 36-hole cut yesterday.

With more than 78 players making the 36-hole cut there were 83 players - a 54-hole cut took place yesterday reducing the field to 74 professionals at low 70 and ties. That came at two-under 208 or better.

Brooks Koepka overcame two early bogeys and a sea of Jordan Spieth bobbleheads to shoot a five-under 65 and matching the AT&T Byron Nelson’s best 54-hole score at 16-under 194. He moved into a two-stroke lead over Spieth going into the final round when they will be paired together again.

Lahiri called his round a “tale of two nines”.

“I got off to a horror start (with a double bogey on 11th after starting from 10th). Then I then tried to force the issue. It backfired badly on me,” he said.

“But the back nine was excellent ball striking. I had a couple of bad breaks but should have shot five-under on the back nine itself. Anyway I survived to see another day (making the 54-hole cut). Hopefully, I have saved the best for last.  Overall, it really was a tale of two nines,” Lahiri added.

Spieth played his first PGA TOUR event at the AT&T Byron Nelson as a 16-year-old amateur six years ago. Ane, he is now the World No. 2 ranked player and his image is everywhere at TPC Four Seasons, including those bobbleheads.

Playing in the final threesome with Spieth and second-round leader Ben Crane, Koepka hit his first drive way left on the way to an opening bogey. There were birdies at No.  3 and 5, but Koepka followed with another bogey at No. 6 when he hit his first two shots into the rough.

But Koepka was bogey-free for the rest of the day and took the lead with a 20-foot birdie at the difficult 405-yard 14th hole. Spieth drained a 23-foot putt there to salvage a bogey after hitting his drive into the water and having to punch a shot back into the fairway.

Matt Kuchar (65), Bud Cauley (68) and Sergio Garcia (68) were tied for third at 13-under. Crane, who turned 40 in March, shot 72 and dropped to 10-under and in a tie for 11th.