SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Arjun Atwal went to Bermuda with out having competed within the three months since his father died and with out the assure of a tee time. He walked off Port Royal on Thursday with an 8-under 63 that left him one shot behind within the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Atwal had not performed golf of any variety since coming back from India till final Friday, and he wasn’t certain how his 49-year-old physique would maintain up over 18 holes. He felt nice, and he performed even higher.
Atwal was one shot behind Austin Smotherman, who had 9 birdies and a clear card in calm morning situations, and Harrison Endycott of Australia, who performed his last 5 holes in 5 below. Every had a 62.
Scoring situations have been so perfect that just about 75% of the 132-man discipline broke 70.
Nobody was extra stunned than Atwal, whose lone PGA Tour victory was within the Wyndham Championship in 2010 on a sponsor exemption.
The sphere is so weak for this event — just one participant from the highest 50 on the earth rating — that Atwal was excessive sufficient on the alternate listing to fly to the center of the Atlantic Ocean.
Nicholas Lindheim withdrew with a again harm. Atwal was consuming breakfast, had time to hit a couple of drivers, headed to the primary tee and promptly opened with three straight birdies.
“I have not performed a lot golf. I misplaced my father about three months in the past in India, so I went over there,” Atwal mentioned. “I simply have not performed golf, and overlook strolling. I performed 18 holes at Isleworth final Friday in a golf cart, and it is not the identical as this place. So I am actually happy I received by means of the 18 holes and I am not worn out as such.”
The Friday recreation at house in Florida was his solely golf because the 3M Open in Minnesota on July 21, when he was disqualified after a 73.
The lack of his father hit exhausting — the primary loss of life in his instant household — although he mentioned it introduced him a greater perspective.
“The sport’s only a recreation. I take it for what it’s now,” Atwal mentioned. “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 am trying ahead to the 50 tour subsequent yr after March.”
Smotherman is simply getting began. He completed at No. 137 within the FedEx Cup final yr as a rookie however was capable of hold his full card when he moved into the highest 125 with all of the gamers defecting to LIV Golf.
He was bracing for giant wind, very like he skilled final week in Dallas for the member-guest at Trinity Forest. He received nothing like that within the morning calm when he had a bogey-free spherical for his finest rating on the PGA Tour.
Endycott joined him at 62, although it wasn’t a great begin. He opened with two bogeys. By the top of the spherical, the Australian had seven birdies and two eagles to atone for that. And pretty much as good because the climate was, this was the day to take benefit.
“I do not suppose we will get too many rounds out right here with no wind,” Endycott mentioned.
The 4 gamers who joined Atwal at 63 included Adam Schenk, whose spouse mentioned he missed his flight on Monday as a result of he left his golf equipment at house.
Sean O’Hair and Thomas Detry have been amongst these at 64. The group at 65 featured Seamus Power of Eire, who at No. 48 is the highest-ranked participant at Port Royal.
Lacking from the sphere was Grayson Murray. The Royal Gazette reported he was injured in a scooter accident on the Bermuda roads.
John Daly rolled his strategy to a 71. Daly is allowed to make use of a cart on the PGA Tour by means of the American with Disabilities Act due to osteoarthritis in his proper knee.
