Lahiri. File pic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida, Feb 26: Anirban Lahiri’s home campaign at the Honda Classic played at the PGA National, which is so close to his residence, came to an end despite a brave effort of five birdies in the last six holes of the second round.
The first round 73 and then too many bogeys in the first 12 holes of the second round left him far too much to do in the last six holes. Yet he gave it a go but fell one shot short of making the cut. From 5-over after 12 he made it even par after 18, but that one shot, which could have been on any of the previous 30 holes over two days came in between.
Daniel Berger, who also lives 15 minutes from the PGA National and calls the event a home game, shot a second straight 65 to take the lead. Fed with the food made by his mother, Nadia Berger, the World No. 21 who has four PGA Tour wins to his name, is three shots clear of Chris Kirk (65-68) and Kurt Kitayama (64-69). Berger has had 11 birdies against one bogey in 36 holes. His lone bogey was on 15th, his sixth hole of the day in the second round.
Berger, 28, was a runner-up at Honda as a PGA TOUR rookie in 2015, when he lost a two-hole playoff to veteran Padraig Harrington. Berger also tied for fourth two years ago and last year missed the tournament due to a rib injury.
Kirk and Kitayama are 7-under in T-2 while Mark Hubbard (70-64) and Adam Svensson (69-65) are Tied-fourth at 6-under.
The leading Asian is C.T. Pan (70-70) at T-31.
Defending champion Matt Jones missed the cut (73-74) at 7-over, while the 2-over 142 cut marks the just the second over-par cut of the season after Houston Open.
Read also:
Disappointing start for Lahiri at Palm Beach; Kitayama leads
Lahiri comes to home course at PGA National seeking to reverse fortunes
