Golfer Lahiri jumps to tied 23rd at World Tour Championship

LEADING INDIAN GOLFER Anirban Lahiri shot five-under 67 to jump 23 places to be tied 23rd after the second round of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Friday.

The 28-year-old, who scored one-over 73 on Thursday at the Earth Course of the Jumeirah Golf Estates, improved his performance and took his two-day total to four-under 140. 

He was eight strokes behind leader Andy Sullivan of England, who scored a second 66 to open up a one-shot halfway lead over Emiliano Grillo (64) of Argentina.

World No.42 Lahiri got birdies on the second, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th, 14th and 18th holes against a double-bogey on the par-four fifth hole.

Meanwhile, world No.53 Sullivan, remained at the top with a 66 that included birdies on the first, ninth, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th.

Behind him was Grillo, who charged up the leaderboard with a splendid 64, the best round of the day in the European Tour season-ending tournament. The Argentine scored 69 on Thursday.

Two strokes behind him was the United States' Patrick Reed, who added a 65 to the opening 70.

Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee (67), world No.3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (68) and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (65) shared the fourth spot on 136 total.