Augusta, United States: India’s Anirban Lahiri lived dangerously before making the halfway cut right on the mark on his maiden appearance at the Masters on Friday.
The 27-year-old Lahiri, the current Asian Tour number one, needed to save par on the closing hole at Augusta National to settle for a three-over-par 75 which got him through into the weekend rounds on two-over-par 146 in tied 50th place.
Unlike his opening round where he was rock solid for a 71, Lahiri scrambled all day, mixing his card with one eagle, two birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey.
“I got off to a terrible start. I didn’t execute my plan at all. Obviously I was not able to focus as well as I would have liked. I think that also kind of happened because I got wrong footed with a few bogeys early on,” said Lahiri, who won twice on the Asian Tour in February.
“I think I fought back well, but I just hit so many loose shots. It was disappointing to drop so many shots. But I’m happy that I managed to make it through to the weekend.
“You want to play well in the majors. But you can’t play well in them if you don’t play four days. So, you know, I’ve given myself that opportunity now. If I have a good weekend I can definitely move up.”
Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee broke par for the first time at Augusta National, a solid 70 helping him to finish the day in tied 33rd place on 145.
Korea’s Noh Seungyul, making his debut in the Masters, featured on the leaderboard early in the second round before signing for a 74 which left him in a share of 29th place.
Countryman Sangmoon Bae carded a 71 for equal 33rd. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama fired a 70 for a 141 total in tied 12th position, some 11 shots behind runaway leader Jordan Spieth..
