Akron :Anirban Lahiri, coming in after a short break following events in Europe, was hit by back spasms early in his first round as he carded a 77 in the World Golf Championships-Invitational.
Lahiri, winner of Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open, managed two birdies, five bogeys and two doubles and he was lying tied 72nd, one place behind Phil Mickelson, who also had a bad day.
Lahiri said he was just glad to get through the first round and would be seeing a doctor and also took on course treatment to help him complete his first round.
Lahiri started with a birdie on the first, at which point there was no sign of spasms, but he seemed hampered by them by the third hole and had a series of bogeys.
New Zealand’s Danny Lee (65) went into sole lead at five-under with seven birdies against two bogeys, both on his first nine, which was the back nine of the course. Lee was one shot clear of Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk, who carded 66 each.
“I started getting spasms on the golf course and just about managed to finish the round. It was not something I was carrying with me. I was not injured at all. It just came on this morning. It was fine at practice and I was fine at the first tee.”
“I had about 134 (yards) to the front pin on the last hole. It would usually be a wedge and I hit a 8-iron and I kept my fingers crossed to just get through 18 holes. But I am disappointed as I feel I could have saved a couple of shots. I don’t think I am playing bad, (but) I did putt bad (today). That can be worked on.”
PTI