Anirban Lahiri calls it déjà vu, and it is difficult to disagree. In a repeat of the 2008 edition, the Bangalore golfer leads the field at the halfway mark of the BILT Open, and what is even more striking, he aggregates 13-under 131 — exactly the same number — after two rounds. But the similarity ends there, or so insists Lahiri, having carded a seven-under 65 on Friday to open up a three-stroke cushion at the top. The last time when he was in this position, excitement got the better of him. Now, he says, he is relaxed and is taking it one round at a time.

“Last year I couldn’t sleep well, partly because I was excited to be in the lead ahead of Jeev (Milkha Singh) and Jyoti (Randhawa) and also because I had to finish two rounds in a day (after the play had been suspended on the second day),” he recalled. “This time I’m not going to lose my sleep on what happens on Sunday. I am not even thinking about that. I’m just going to go out there and play with one target: to stay in the 60s. I’m more relaxed and confident as I don’t have to prove anything.”

Lahiri did prove it again, though, that he’s the man to watch out for on the tour. There isn’t much scope of improvement if you are coming off a round of 66 on the previous day, nonetheless he bettered it with blemish-free golf on Friday.

... contd.