Indian golfing ace Anirban Lahiri made it to the weekend rounds of The Open after battling typical Scottish weather for a one-over-par 72 as he was tied 31st at the end of second round here today.
Lahiri, who carded two-under 69 on first day added one-over 72 to get to one-under for 36 holes. That will easily make the cut as conditions looked like worsening.
Lahiri's position could improve as conditions looked like getting tougher.
"I am glad I am finished," said Lahiri.
"The conditions are getting tougher. I got off to a poor start but recovered well to shoot one-under in last nine holes."
Lahiri had two birdies against three bogeys at the Royal Troon, which was hit by rain, cold temperatures and winds in sharp contrast to the sunny Thursday.
Phil Mickelson added a 69 to his 63 and reached 10-under at halfway stage, but his lead was down to one shot, as the man in form Henrik Stenson shot a brilliant 65 with seven birdies and just one bogey to get to nine-under.
In the third place was Soren Kjeldsen, who loves Links golf. He had rounds of 67-68 and was tied with Keegan Bradley (67-68). Defending champion Zach Johnson was fifth with a round of 70 after his first round 67.
Lahiri said: "I managed to control the damage as I didn't play too good. The idea was to get off to a good start but it wasn't to be. A couple of judgement errors as it was new conditions. It was very different the way we have been playing the front nine all week so I think that kind of didn't work in my favour."
But he added, "I'm glad I hung in there, although I did feel like I could have made a few more putts. A little disappointed but it could have been worse."
Playing in the company of Keegan Bradley (67-68) and Sergio Garcia (68-70), Lahiri bogeyed the fourth. But he made a great birdie on the famous Par-3 called the 'Postage Stamp' with a 10-foot conversion.
He dropped a shot each on nine and 10 as conditions became worse. Then he picked a useful birdie on 16.
The birdie on eight was particularly satisfying for
Lahiri.
He said, "As hard as that hole played yesterday, it's going to be one of the holes you might see a few more birdies today, just because of how the winds are today. I hit a good shot and finally made a 10-footer. It's been a grind on the greens for me. I don't think I putted too badly but just burnt a lot of lips," he said.
"The hardest holes are around the turn. Our group played seven, eight, nine and 10 in the wind and rain and that's when conditions are the hardest. It's hard to judge exactly how far it's going to go," he said.
Hoping to turn in under-par rounds over the weekend, Lahiri will be bidding to improve on his best of tied 30th achieved last year at St Andrews. His best in a Major is tied fifth.
"I'll be hoping to post two scores in the red. That should be pretty gettable for me, if it's deep enough in the red, then maybe I can give myself a chance on Sunday," he said.
