3M Open | Arjun Atwal hits three consecutive birdies to stay in fight, Anirban Lahiri eliminated after third cut

After a disappointing start, Arjun Atwal staged a brilliant comeback to end the third round in the ninth spot and just three shots behind leaders Matthew Wolff (62), Collin Morikawa (64), and Bryson DeChambeau (70). This is a major improvement considering he had a six-shot deficit after 36 holes as the first edition of the Blaine tournament looks set for a thrilling finish if the highly competitive looking scoreboard is anything to go by.

Adam Hadwin and Wyndham Clark are tied for fourth at 14-under while Hideki Matsuyama, Charles Howell III, and Troy Merritt are level at 13-under followed by Atwal.

The 46-year-old has had a quiet season playing in only his fourth tournament and having qualified for only one cut. He had a two-under in the first nine and four pars in the second set before his tee-shot ended up in the water on Par-4 14th, leaving him with a double bogey. However, he had 16 greens out of 18 in the third round and on the 16th, he birdied from nine feet before following it up with a 31-foot birdie.

The good form continued as a putt from 90 feet led to a one-foot tap-in birdie on the 18th as he ended on 68th. Atwal is looking for his first international win in five years after having last won in Dubai in 2014.

“That was a satisfying finish and I am not thinking about scores or finishes. I am just focusing on each shot,” said Atwal, reported scroll.in.

Meanwhile, his compatriot Anirban Lahiri missed the 54-hole cut as he ended tied on 83rd after more than 80 had qualified post the second cut. Lahiri had four birdies, three bogeys, one double and one triple to his name as his 75 wasn’t good enough to progress in the tournament.