Steady 72 in Second Round Fails to Save Anirban Lahiri From Cut

Despite a steady second round, Anirban Lahiri failed to stay in the fray for the weekend as the Indian golfer missed the cut at the USD 10 million PLAYERS Championships on his maiden appearance here.

The 27-year-old Lahiri, who had a 76 in his first round, finished at four-over 148 and missed the cut by four at the TPC Sawgrass.

World No. 36 Lahiri had a superb start with birdies on second and third on Saturday, but a double bogey on the fifth took away the momentum and despite finishing at 72, he exited early from the tournament.

At two-under after three holes, Lahiri was showing signs of a good round that would give him a chance of getting into weekend action.

"I am disappointed not to be playing the weekend. I played decent today though the double bogey on the 5th gave away the momentum I had built at that stage after birdieing second and third.

"I feel like my short game has let me down the last two weeks and I will work on improving that department of my game," said Lahiri.

Lahiri also had a bogey on eighth, birdie on ninth and again a birdie on 11th followed by a bogey on 15th to finish with 72.

He added, "Just a couple of holes this week have put me out of the weekend though it's been a fantastic learning experience," Lahiri, who will now move to Europe for further action, said.

Lahiri's two double bogeys and a triple bogey cost him heavily despite seven birdies in two rounds. He also had four bogeys.

Meanwhile, Kevin Na and Jerry Kelly went into shared lead for the weekend. Kelly and Na were at 8-under 136, two shots clear of Rickie Fowler (69), Chris Kirk (68), David Hearn (71) and Branden Grace (67).

Tiger Woods, in his first start since the Masters, played around the cut line most of the day until he got to the par-5 ninth for his last hole. He hit a wedge to 10 feet, made the birdie and carded a 71 for even-par 144 and survived the cut on the number. Woods is now eight shots off the lead.

Besides Lahiri, also falling by the wayside were the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson, who, too missed the cut.

Rory McIlroy had a 71 and was four shots back going into the weekend. The other two guys in his group, Masters champion Spieth and Jason Day of Australia, missed the halfway cut.

Spieth finished with a meaningless bogey for a 72 to miss by three shots. Day started the second round tied with McIlroy and had two 7s on his card within four holes. He closed with a double bogey for an 81.

Mickelson, who played in the group ahead of Woods, had two 6s and a seven on his way to a 76 to miss the cut for the third straight year.