TPC SOUTHWIND: India's ace golfer Anirban Lahiri was placed tied-86th with 16 others after the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship — the first of three FedExCup Playoffs event — with the 35-year-old having his task cut out in Round 2 on Friday.
The India returned a 1-over for the day as he carded 71 even as Korean star Si Woo Kim had an eagle to show as he shared the first-round lead with American J.J. Spaun on 8-under 62 on Thursday.
Anirban Lahiri had recently snapped a run of poor form with a tied eighth finish at the Wyndham Championship last Sunday, which had put him in a buoyant mood as he prepared for the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. But Thursday's showing would certainly have disappointed the Indian.
The next couple of weeks are crucial for the Asian star as he seeks to qualify for his first ever appearance in the season-finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta, and also a third appearance in the Presidents Cup for the International Team.
Meanwhile, Korea's Si Woo Kim saved his best for last with a hole-out eagle. The 27-year-old Kim, who withdrew from the final round of the Wyndham Championship last weekend due to illness, was in sizzling form at TPC Southwind where he capped his day by sinking a 168-yard approach at the par-4 18th hole with an 8-iron in a round that featured seven other birdies and a lone bogey.
The top-70 ranked golfers in Memphis will progress into next week's BMW Championship, where the field will be further reduced to 30 players for the season-finale, Tour Championship. The PGA Tour's ultimate prize, the FedExCup, will be awarded in Atlanta where the winner will also earn USD18 million. IANS
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