Day two of the Liv Gold Andalucia on Valderrama gave the big names their chance to challenge the top after a chastening first round in the wind. Overnight leader Dean Burmester couldn’t maintain his form from Friday as seven bogeys saw the South African drop back to a tie for sixth on one-under.
A new leader emerged as Crushers GC man Anirban Lahiri would make a bolt from the pack to lead by four on seven-under. The Indian kept the damage to a minimum on the tricky course with just a single dropped shot on his fourth, the par-4 5th. A fine run of six birdies on his walk would propel Lahiri into a commanding lead that he will look to defend on the final day.
The overnight leader spoke after his fine day and was asked if he knew he had that round in the tank.
“I mean, I made a lot of putts. Holed a chip,” he said. “You had to do all of that to shoot five (under). So, I’m really happy that I was in a good zone, pretty calm. Had a few lip-outs, a few missed chances early. Just kind of stayed in the round. Stayed in the shot. Stayed in the present. Really happy obviously, yeah.”
Lahiri doesn’t feel that Valderrama is a course that you can afford to sit on a lead and be conservative, however.
“It doesn’t really matter on this golf course,” he said. “You have to go out and every day you have to battle it out. You have to have a good attitude. You’re going to get some bad breaks. Every time you get an opportunity, you have to try and convert it.
“It’s about patience. I had a lot of putts go in today. They may not tomorrow but I’ll still stay patient and have the same attitude,” he added. “It is a difficult golf course to catch up. So, for me, you know, as long as I can keep it in the fairways and greens, which is much easier said than done here, that’s obviously going to be my goal, yeah.”
His Crushers GC captain made a run of his own on day two as Bryson DeChambeau made amends for a tough day on Friday. A bogey on his opener, the par-4 7th was one of only two for the reigning US Open champion. He would soon get motoring though, with four birdies and a contender for shot of the week with a slam-dunk eagle two from distance on the par-4 14th hole. His fine day dragged DeChambeau back up the order to sit in a tie for sixth after his four-under day.
Danny Lee consolidated second place overnight but couldn’t make progress in round two. A one-over 72 for the Iron Heads player, he sits four back from Lahiri overnight. Local boy and Fireballs player Eugenio Chacarra is next up on two-under to sit tied third with the resurgent Martin Kamer and Tyrrell Hatton.
Graeme McDowell had another day to forget on Saturday with seven bogeys leaving the Smash GC man languishing on ten-over after two rounds. Good days for the leader and his captain saw Crushers GC nab the lead in the team standings by four strokes over Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs. Stinger GC round off the top three with a four-stroke advantage from the chasing pack.
The final day of action at the LIV Golf Andalucia gets underway at the slightly earlier time of 12.05 on Sunday with the leading three-ball of Lahiri, Kaymer and Danny Lee heading out off the first. A big hitting group begin their day off the fourth as Sergio will have fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepke. Expect fireworks in that one. Will the elements play a part on Sunday and can Lahiri defend with the big names lurking in the long grass. Still all to play for in an exciting finale at Real Club Valderrama.
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