Anirban Lahiri tied for eighth after three rounds at PGA Championship

Kohler: Playing only his seventh Major, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri set himself up nicely for a career-best finish as he turned in a two-under 70 to be tied eighth after the third round of the PGA Championship here. He will play in the fourth last group on Sunday alongside Matt Kuchar. Lahiri, winner of the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open earlier this season, came onto the Whistling Straits course early yesterday to complete his remaining five holes from second round and then less than three hours later began his third round. He birdied three of the five – a hat-trick from fifth to seventh – remaining second round holes and then added five birdies against three bogeys in the third round. [caption id=“attachment_2394668” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Anirban Lahiri hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the third round of the 2015 PGA Championship. Getty [/caption] Jason Day (66) will go in the lead group with Jordan Spieth (65), who already owns two of this year’s Majors – the Masters and US Open. Day, who has nine top-10s in Majors, but has never won, is 15-under 201, while Spieth is 13-under 203. Tiger Woods (75-73) missed the third successive cut in a Major, while defending champion Rory McIlroy – making a comeback from injury – is tied 17th with rounds of 71-71-68. Speaking on plans for final round, Lahiri said, “You’re going to have to come out with a hot start if you want to have a chance, because there are birdies on this golf course. And these guys are good. You’ve got to play great. That’s what I’m going to try to do.” “Well, you had to drive it well, and I did that. But I just didn’t take my opportunities. I gave myself quite a few, but a little disappointed not to score. I scored poorly today.” But he also said, “I’m happy with the way I hit it. (But) Quite frustrated with my score. I didn’t really make anything inside ten feet. So it’s kind of one of those rounds that could have been, I think, but I’m going to have to play lights out tomorrow. I’m going to make more putts tomorrow.” With the course giving in a lot of good scores yesterday, Lahiri started his third round in style with birdies on first and second. He hit a fine drive and a nice approach to 10 feet and holed his first birdie. Then despite finding the left rough on second with his drive, he hit his next shot to 77 yards and chipped nicely to five feet and holed his birdie putt on par-five second. After two pars, Lahiri missed an 18-footer for birdie on par-five fifth, leaving it 16 inches short. He gave away his first bogey of Saturday, when a 19-footer for par stopped less than a foot short on par-3 seventh. Another miss for a birdie from 16 feet saw him turn in one-under. He missed yet another 10-odd footer for birdie on 10th and rolled his 25-footer for eagle to 18 inches for a birdie on par-5 11th. That fired him as he hit a great shot from tee to five feet to make it back-to-back birdies on par-three 12th. He was now three-under for the day and 10-under for the tournament. The run stopped yet again. A 15-footer for birdie went past on 13th and he missed a eight-footer for par on par-four 15th. Two great shots and a neat chip gave him a five-footer for birdie on par-5 16th and he grabbed it. He was on the green and 20-feet away on par-3 17th but did not hole it. Then on the 18th, which was again the toughest hole of the day, Lahiri left a 11-footer par putt less than a foot short for a closing bogey. The same hole cost him a double on the first day. Lying third is former US Open winner, Justin Rose (68) with South African Branden Grace (64) at 12-under 204 and lurking one shot behind them is Martin Kaymer (65), the 2010 PGA Championship winner at Whistling Straits. Tony Finau (69) and third round leader Matt Jones (73) are tied sixth at 10-under 206 and Lahiri is tied eighth with Dustin Johnson (68) at eight-under. Matt Kuchar (68), Billy Horschel (68) and JB Holmes (69) complete the Top-10 at seven-under 209. Among Asian Tour stars, Australian rookie Cameron Smith signed for a 70 for a share of 30th place while Yang posted another 72 to slip to tied-44th. Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who won a matchplay event in Europe a fortnight ago, carded a 73 for a tied-62nd place at Whistling Straits. PTI