Lahiri goes out fighting

San Francisco, May 2

Anirban Lahiri was knocked out of the WGC-Match Play Championship after losing a close contest against Marc Leishman in Round 3.

The Australian world No. 60 remained undefeated after securing a 1 up win over the world No. 35. Lahiri, who had defeated Ryan Palmer in Round 1 and lost to 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose in Round 2, had a mixed round with five birdies and four bogeys.

He started with a bang and went 1 up after birdying the first hole.

But a bogey on the par-4 third evened things up. The Australian birdied the fifth and the ninth to go 2 up.

Lahiri started the back nine in similar fashion, birdying the 11th and 12th to go level. But a bogey-par-bogey on the next three holes, with the Australian double-bogeying the 14th, Lahiri again found himself chasing. Both Lahiri and Leishman birdied the next and then finished with pars on the last two holes.

Spieth knocked out

World No. 2 and Masters champion Jordan Spieth was knocked out by England’s Lee Westwood in a dramatic match. Westwood prevailed 2 up in an exciting contest, fighting back from an early deficit and ramming home an important 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to wrestle a lead he would not relinquish.

Hunter Mahan, the 2012 champion and 2013 runner-up, advanced to the final 16 for the fifth straight year with a crushing 5&4 win over fellow American Matt Kuchar.

Mahan has destroyed his group, winning 7&6 over Stephen Gallacher and 5&3 over Ben Martin over the opening two days. He will face Australian upstart John Senden, who finished off his group play 3-0 with a 1 up win over Brendon Todd, knocking out world number three Henrik Stenson and former FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas in the process.

Big-hitting Gary Woodland took down former US Open champion Webb Simpson 1 up to go 3-0 and set up a round of 16 clash with Leishman.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy fought back from two holes down with two to play to beat Billy Horschel. — Agencies