La Quinta, California, Jan 19: Anirban Lahiri needing at least three birdies on the back nine to make the cut at the American Express Golf Championship, went one better with four and carded six-under 66 at the La Quinta course to ensure final round action.
After 70-70 in the first two rounds, Lahiri’s 66 carried his total to 206 for 10-under and Tied-43rdas the cut fell at nine-under. He rose from overnight T-84thto T-43rd. Among those missing the cut was Tournament Host, Phil Mickelson, who finished his three rounds in three-under.
Interestingly, Lahiri’s rounds at La Quinta in his previous two appearances at the tournament in 2016 and 2017 produced rounds of 64 each. He skipped the event in 2017 and 2018.
Andrew Landry (65) at the Nicklaus Tournament Course and Scottie Scheffler (66) at thee tougher Stadium Course, seemed to break away from the pack on the moving day. They are both 21-under 195 and four shots clear of third-place Rickie Fowler (70), who played the Stadium Course.
Lahiri, who had two double bogeys in his 70 at Stadium Course in the second round, began with a flourish as parred the 10thand then birdied 11th, 12thand 13th. A dropped shot on 17thsaw him turn in two-under for the day and six-under for the tournament. He still needed to make ample ground to make the cut.
On the second nine, he birdied first and added further gains on fifth and sixth. A closing birdie on ninth made his position safe as he finished 10-under and one better than the cutline.
After three rounds at Nicklaus Tournament Course, the Stadium Course and La Quinta action returns to Stadium Course for the final day.
Fowler and Scheffler were tied for the second round lead, but the latter playing the event for the first time broke away Saturday.
The 32-year-old Texan Landry lost a playoff to Jon Rahm two years ago at PGA West.
Scheffler, 23, a former University of Texas star is in his first season on the PGA Tour after winning twice and topping the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and overall points lists. Both Landry and Scheffler are now friends.
Tony Finau followed a second-round 62 on the Nicklaus Course with a 71 at the Stadium and he is T-9 with 10 others.
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