India’s Arjun Atwal, idled whereas grieving his father’s loss of life, returned to competitors by firing an eight-under-par 63, one off the lead after Thursday’s opening spherical of the PGA Bermuda Championship.
American Austin Smotherman, ranked 303rd, fired his career-low PGA rating with a bogey-free 62 to match Australian rookie Harrison Endycott for the lead on the windy seaside Port Royal course in Southampton.
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However the most effective feat belonged to 49-year-old Atwal, who shared second with Individuals Scott Brown, Adam Schenk, Denny McCarthy and Robby Shelton.
Atwal solely bought into the sector on Thursday morning after American Nicholas Lindheim withdrew attributable to a again harm.
“I bought right here round 7:30, hit a number of wedges after which went in to eat breakfast,” Atwal stated. “About 8:45 my caddie texted me. He’s like, oh, 9:10 we would have a sport. So I left my breakfast, got here out, hit a number of drivers and off we went.”
Atwal started on the again 9 and promptly birdied his first three holes, then closed the aspect with back-to-back birdies earlier than taking his lone bogey on the first. He answered with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second and par-3 third and added two extra on the sixth and par-5 seventh.
Atwal has fallen to 2,815th on this planet golf rankings after being rocked to the core and returning to his homeland within the wake of household tragedy.
“I haven’t performed a lot golf. I misplaced my father about three months in the past in India, so I went over there,” Atwal stated.
“I’ve by no means had a loss in my fast household. It’s my first one, so it’s actually laborious to cope with. And with my dad and mom, they lived in India. My mother nonetheless lives in India. Not having seen them for all these years, it was actually powerful on me.”
Solely up to now week has golf discovered a spot again in his life.
“I simply haven’t performed golf — and overlook strolling,” he stated. “I performed 18 holes at Isleworth final Friday in our Scotch sport in a golf cart and it’s not the identical as this place, so I’m actually happy I bought the 18 holes in and I’m not worn out as such.”
That Isleworth spherical was the primary time he performed since July on the PGA 3M Open.
“I hadn’t touched my golf equipment since,” he stated.
Atwal gained his solely PGA title at Greensboro in 2010. He gained three titles on the European Tour, most just lately on the 2008 Malaysian Open, and took eight victories on the Asian Tour, most just lately on the 2014 Dubai Open.
“The sport is only a sport. I take it for what it’s now and I’ve nothing to show to anyone. I’ve gained out right here, I’ve gained on the European Tour, the Asian Tour and I’m wanting ahead to the 50 tour (Champions) subsequent yr after March,” Atwal stated.
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