Anirban Lahiri Daily Diary: I made it through Round One with 67 to be tied ninth

Well, that was really a struggle. I made it through 18 holes today, but only just! And I did not collapse.

Firstly, apologies to everyone for skipping my Daily Diary on Thursday. I have had a bout of flu, that has hit me hard and I could hardly speak. I had no energy and have slept, perhaps, 20 hours on Thursday night, leading into Friday. I even had to withdraw from the Pro-Am, which meant I had not seen the back nine holes before today’s round one. I played the front nine on Wednesday morning in my only on-course practice.

I started with a par three on hole 16 by the sea, the course’s signature hole, in the shotgun format but then doubled the 17th, with a bad lie in the rough and then three putted, not the start I was looking for.

Did not feel sharp

I put it behind me and, to be honest, I was not zoned in at all today. I did not feel sharp.

My first birdie of the day was on hole 18, my third hole, where I hit it close. I then made good birdies on holes 1, 2, 4 and 7.

The good news was that I putted like a king today. I did not have the strength to muscle the ball around the golf course. I made some good birdie putts, but just as important, were the par putts from four to seven feet I made to keep the momentum of my round going.

I left myself with a lot of wedges, which is a strength of my game. I played the back nine blind and it is certainly the tougher one, especially being exposed to the wind, which always seemed either cross wind or into the wind.

Favourite grasses

Regarding the positives, it is great to have one of my favourite grasses, paspalum here at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. I have always been very comfortable with this variety of grass.

The challenge now is that I need to eat, get hydrated and rest and sleep for the next 16 hours or so, and, hopefully, I will wake up refreshed and stronger, ready for Saturday’s shotgun start at 12.15pm.

Anirban lies in tied 9th after round one with a 67 in the Individual Event. The Crushers GC Team of Bryson DeChambeau (Capt. 70), Paul Casey (68), Charles Howell III (70) and Anirban Lahiri (67) lie in tied ninth place from 12 teams on five under par.

— Anirban Lahiri is a 35 year-old Indian golfer, who has recently received his Dubai Golden Visa Award. He has played on the PGTI Tour, Asian Tour, DP World Tour and now plays on the LIV Golf Tour. Anirban has 18 professional victories: 12 on the PGTI, seven on the Asian Tour and two on the DP World Tour