Lahiri finishes tied-33 at Phoenix Open

Scottsdale, FEBRUARY 8

Anirban Lahiri carded an improved two-under 69 in the final round to continue his American journey with a creditable tied-33 at the record-breaking Waste Management in Scottsdale, Phoenix. 

It was Lahiri’s second finish inside the top-35 in three weeks on the PGA Tour, where he has a full card for the first time. Lahiri, who opened the week with a stunning five-under 66 that gave him a share of the first round lead in a PGA Tour event for the first time ever, had a rough time on the greens thereafter.

But today the 28-year-old had four birdies, three of them on his second nine, the front section of the TPC Scottsdale, and two bogeys. Lahiri’s putting was again up-and-down but he held himself together well on the second nine for three birdies, including two over 15 feet.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama scored a stunning win over Rickie Fowler in an epic four-hole play-off. Three behind overnight leader Danny Lee, Matsuyama was two behind Fowler with two holes to go. Matsuyama birdied the 17th and the 18th, while Fowler bogeyed the 17th and needed a birdie on the 18th to catch Matsuyama.

Matsuyama and Fowler were tied at 14-under, while Lee slipped to 11-under and fourth place, as Harris English (66) was third at 12-under. Fowler was undone by the 17th, where he hit into water in regulation for bogey and then again put his 5-wood into the lake at the same hole in the fourth play-off hole.

Matsuyama had birdied in regulation, and in the play-off, he two-putted from six feet to win the title in a dramatic finish.

This marks Matsuyama’s eighth top-5 finish since the start of the 2014-15 PGA Tour season (29 starts), a current record. Fowler missed a chance for his fifth worldwide win in nine months. Danny Lee struggled in the final round, posting a 2-over 73, good for fourth-place honours. — PTI