Scottsdale (Arizona):
It was another frustrating day for Anirban Lahiri, who once again missed a lot of putts and managed only an even par 71 to be tied 39 on the third day of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Lahiri, who carded five-under 66 on first day and then 74 on second, has often given himself chances but not been able to convert as many as he should have.
At two-under 211, Lahiri is tied 39th, down two places from his overnight tied 37th and way below his first round position of tied fourth.
Lahiri missed a bunch of putts, about four or so between 10 and 15 feet, but what was even more painful was a six footer birdie putt that went past and a par putt on ninth, that he missed from inside four feet.
Lahiri birdied the third and fifth on the front nine and dropped shots on second, seventh and ninth, while on the back nine, he bogeyed 12th, at which stage he was two-over for the day, but birdies on 13th and the famed par-3 16th saw him get back to par for the round.
Even while not being able to find many fairways off the tee, he has done well with the irons to get to the green or close to it. But then the putter has not done its job after the first day. Lahiri playing his first full season on the PGA Tour, was tied 28th at Career Builder Challenge and missed the cut at Farmers Insurance.
Korean-born Kiwi, Danny Lee took the lead yesterday in front of the largest crowd in golf history, with an estimated 201,003 fans filling Stadium Course.
Lee shot four-under 67 to move three strokes ahead of Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama. The 25-year-old, Lee, who won the Greenbrier Classic last year for his first PGA TOUR title, had six birdies and two bogeys to reach 13-under 200.
Fowler, who won two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi for his fourth worldwide victory in nine months, parred the final five holes for a 70. Matsuyama had a 68.
Second-round leader James Hahn had a 74 to fall into a tie for seventh at 7 under. Tied with Lee for the lead at 12 under after the 11th hole, he dropped five strokes on the next three holes.
The 45-year-old former Phil Mickelson shot six-under 65 and moved to eight-under 205. His round included an unlikely birdie on 15 when his hybrid from 255 yards went so far right that it crossed the lake and ended up in the 11th fairway. He hit a wedge to 15 feet and made the putt.
Bubba Watson had his first over-par round ever at TPC Scottsdale, shooting a 73 to drop to 2 under. He shot par or better in his first 36 rounds in the tournament.
As for the crowd, the latest figure of 201,003 bettered the 189,722 in 2014. The tournament also set a day record on Friday at 160,415, and has drawn 535,035 overall. The weekly mark of 564,368 was set last year.
