FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP) — Many players came to the Wyndham Championship for a push into the US PGA Tour's play-offs. Not Arjun Atwal. He was playing for his spot on tour.
Atwal won by a stroke at Sedgefield Country Club, becoming the first Monday qualifier to win on the tour in 24 years.
After leading or sharing the lead after each of the first three rounds, Atwal shot a 3-under 67 in the final round. He finished at 20-under 260 and earned $918,000 - or, more than double the amount he previously earned this year, the reason why his future on tour had been in jeopardy.
"I told my caddie, 'We've got nothing to lose this week. Just go out there and try and win it,'" Atwal said. "Guys are going to be out there trying to secure their FedEx Cup spots or whatever. We've got nothing. I don't have a card. I don't have anything. Just go out there and free-wheel it, and that's what I did this week."
He's the first Indian-born player to win on tour and the first to win both the qualifier and the tournament that follows since Fred Wadsworth at the 1986 Southern Open.
David Toms (64) was 19 under. John Mallinger and Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim shot 62s to match John Rollins (65) and Justin Leonard (65) at 18 under.
For a few dizzying moments late in a low-scoring day, seven players shared the lead at 18 under.
Atwal, who carried a three-stroke lead into the final round, was at 19 under for most of the day but bogeyed the par-3 12th a few minutes before Lucas Glover bogeyed 14 and Toms, Rollins and Leonard all birdied No. 16.
"It just kept changing," Atwal said. "Everybody's tied for the lead at a certain point."
Atwal reclaimed the lead with a birdie on No. 14, Leonard birdied No. 17 and Toms birdied No. 18 to join them at 19 under. Leonard dropped back a stroke after running into trouble on 18, while Atwal still had three holes to play - giving him more than enough chances to settle things himself.
Atwal made his move on the par-3 16th, plopping his tee shot 6 feet from the flagstick and sinking his birdie putt to move to 20 under. He followed that with consecutive pars, sinking a 7-foot putt on No. 18 before dropping his putter and extending his arms upward in jubilation after closing out his first tour victory.
"I was thinking about going to the (driving) range, but when he got to 20 under and they said he had a 15-footer on 17, I just went in the clubhouse and tried to cool off," Toms said. "I was ready to go to the range, if need be, but good for (Atwal). I know it's tough to get that first victory. ... I'm sure that he was battling some nerves, and to pour it in from 6-8 feet on that last hole was pretty impressive."
Glover (67) finished at 17 under, and Webb Simpson (63), Chris Riley (64), Scott Piercy (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were one stroke behind him.
Atwal, who has won on the European, Asian and Nationwide tours, certainly has been through plenty during the past few years.
The player, perhaps best known for his practice rounds with Tiger Woods, is ineligible for the play-offs and lost his tour card last month because he was too low on the money list when his minor medical exemption ran out. That came after he said he returned too soon following weightlifting injuries to both shoulders.
Three years ago, a driver trying to race him down an Orlando street died in a crash. Atwal was cleared of any wrongdoing, although the year-long investigation took an emotional toll.
Glover made five consecutive birdies, sinking four putts from 14 feet or beyond, to catch Atwal, then briefly had the lead all to himself with a birdie on No. 9 that put him at 20 under. That didn't last long: He sent his drive on No. 10 into the rough and three-putted for bogey, and slipped out of contention after he was 3 over on the back nine.
"I didn't make anything coming in," Glover said. "Don't win doing that."
The Wyndham marked the last chance for players to pick up points for the play-offs that begin next week in New Jersey.
Michael Letzig, who arrived at Sedgefield at No. 125 on the points list, finished 14 under move to 118th place, solidifying his spot in The Barclays.
"The goal is to give myself another tournament to play," he said. "I'm in, so (I'll) see what happens."
Others weren't so fortunate. Mallinger started at No. 163 on the points list, but initially figured a final round that included six birdies and an eagle was good enough to propel him into next week. But when others joined him in a tie for third on the leaderboard, he slipped to 132nd place in the standings and finished roughly 40 points out of the playoff picture.
Jeff Quinney, who arrived at No. 127, only moved up one spot on the list and finished about 3 points shy of making the postseason field with his 12 under.
"I could have taken care of my own business today," Quinney said.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
260 Arjun Atwal (Ind) 61 67 65 67
261 David Toms 64 68 65 64
262 Justin Leonard 68 63 66 65, John Rollins 64 65 68 65, Michael Sim (Aus) 66 68 66 62, John Mallinger 65 67 68 62
263 Lucas Glover 64 65 67 67
264 Chris Riley 67 69 64 64, Scott Piercy 66 66 64 68, Brandt Snedeker 63 65 69 67, Webb Simpson 66 64 71 63.
265 Will MacKenzie 68 64 65 68, Scott McCarron 65 68 63 69, Joe Durant 68 67 66 64, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 67 67 69 62, Tim Petrovic 66 68 66 65, Garrett Willis 66 66 65 68
266 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 64 68 68 66, Michael Letzig 66 68 67 65, Aron Price (Aus) 67 69 65 65, Tim Herron 67 64 69 66, Kevin Streelman 64 65 70 67, Kevin Na 66 71 61 68, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 67 66 65 68, Marc Leishman (Aus) 66 66 70 64, Tom Gillis 69 67 64 66, Josh Teater 66 68 67 65
267 Bob Estes 66 70 65 66, Kirk Triplett 69 68 67 63, Bill Haas 69 65 65 68, Chad Collins 68 67 67 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 66 67 65 69, James Driscoll 67 67 67 66
268 Jerry Kelly 66 67 66 69, J J Henry 71 66 67 64, Jason Dufner 66 69 68 65, Jeff Quinney 66 70 64 68, Martin Laird (Sco) 67 65 66 70, Brett Wetterich 70 66 68 64, Jonathan Byrd 66 66 68 68
269 Brian Stuard 69 66 66 68, Garth Mulroy (S Africa) 68 68 65 68, Alex Prugh 69 64 67 69, Mark Wilson 68 67 67 67, John Daly 68 68 69 64, Drew Weaver 67 70 64 68, Jason Gore 65 69 70 65, D.J. Trahan 69 68 66 66
270 Jerry Jr. Richardson 70 66 67 67, Glen Day 67 67 65 71, Briny Baird 66 68 68 68, Troy Merritt 67 70 66 67
271 Spencer Levin 65 67 71 68, Kent Jones 66 70 69 66, Paul Stankowski 67 67 69 68, Greg Owen (Eng) 69 67 65 70, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 66 69 68 68, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 68 69 66 68, Cameron Beckman 67 69 65 70, Boo Weekley 64 67 71 69, Rocco Mediate 70 67 67 67, Troy Matteson 68 67 68 68, Frank Lickliter II 70 67 68 66
272 James Nitties (Aus) 67 68 66 71
273 Charles Warren 67 69 69 68, John Merrick 68 67 69 69, Omar Uresti 69 66 69 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 67 68 70 68, Skip Kendall 66 70 68 69, Blake Adams 65 71 69 68
274 Steve Marino 69 65 74 66, Chris DiMarco 67 68 68 71, Derek Lamely 70 66 66 72
275 Michael Connell 66 69 68 72
276 Kris Blanks 69 68 69 70, Robert Garrigus 69 66 71 70
277 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 70 65 73 69
280 Jay Williamson 65 70 72 73
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP) — Many players came to the Wyndham Championship for a push into the US PGA Tour's play-offs. Not Arjun Atwal. He was playing for his spot on tour.
Atwal won by a stroke at Sedgefield Country Club, becoming the first Monday qualifier to win on the tour in 24 years.
After leading or sharing the lead after each of the first three rounds, Atwal shot a 3-under 67 in the final round. He finished at 20-under 260 and earned $918,000 - or, more than double the amount he previously earned this year, the reason why his future on tour had been in jeopardy.
"I told my caddie, 'We've got nothing to lose this week. Just go out there and try and win it,'" Atwal said. "Guys are going to be out there trying to secure their FedEx Cup spots or whatever. We've got nothing. I don't have a card. I don't have anything. Just go out there and free-wheel it, and that's what I did this week."
He's the first Indian-born player to win on tour and the first to win both the qualifier and the tournament that follows since Fred Wadsworth at the 1986 Southern Open.
David Toms (64) was 19 under. John Mallinger and Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim shot 62s to match John Rollins (65) and Justin Leonard (65) at 18 under.
For a few dizzying moments late in a low-scoring day, seven players shared the lead at 18 under.
Atwal, who carried a three-stroke lead into the final round, was at 19 under for most of the day but bogeyed the par-3 12th a few minutes before Lucas Glover bogeyed 14 and Toms, Rollins and Leonard all birdied No. 16.
"It just kept changing," Atwal said. "Everybody's tied for the lead at a certain point."
Atwal reclaimed the lead with a birdie on No. 14, Leonard birdied No. 17 and Toms birdied No. 18 to join them at 19 under. Leonard dropped back a stroke after running into trouble on 18, while Atwal still had three holes to play - giving him more than enough chances to settle things himself.
Atwal made his move on the par-3 16th, plopping his tee shot 6 feet from the flagstick and sinking his birdie putt to move to 20 under. He followed that with consecutive pars, sinking a 7-foot putt on No. 18 before dropping his putter and extending his arms upward in jubilation after closing out his first tour victory.
"I was thinking about going to the (driving) range, but when he got to 20 under and they said he had a 15-footer on 17, I just went in the clubhouse and tried to cool off," Toms said. "I was ready to go to the range, if need be, but good for (Atwal). I know it's tough to get that first victory. ... I'm sure that he was battling some nerves, and to pour it in from 6-8 feet on that last hole was pretty impressive."
Glover (67) finished at 17 under, and Webb Simpson (63), Chris Riley (64), Scott Piercy (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were one stroke behind him.
Atwal, who has won on the European, Asian and Nationwide tours, certainly has been through plenty during the past few years.
The player, perhaps best known for his practice rounds with Tiger Woods, is ineligible for the play-offs and lost his tour card last month because he was too low on the money list when his minor medical exemption ran out. That came after he said he returned too soon following weightlifting injuries to both shoulders.
Three years ago, a driver trying to race him down an Orlando street died in a crash. Atwal was cleared of any wrongdoing, although the year-long investigation took an emotional toll.
Glover made five consecutive birdies, sinking four putts from 14 feet or beyond, to catch Atwal, then briefly had the lead all to himself with a birdie on No. 9 that put him at 20 under. That didn't last long: He sent his drive on No. 10 into the rough and three-putted for bogey, and slipped out of contention after he was 3 over on the back nine.
"I didn't make anything coming in," Glover said. "Don't win doing that."
The Wyndham marked the last chance for players to pick up points for the play-offs that begin next week in New Jersey.
Michael Letzig, who arrived at Sedgefield at No. 125 on the points list, finished 14 under move to 118th place, solidifying his spot in The Barclays.
"The goal is to give myself another tournament to play," he said. "I'm in, so (I'll) see what happens."
Others weren't so fortunate. Mallinger started at No. 163 on the points list, but initially figured a final round that included six birdies and an eagle was good enough to propel him into next week. But when others joined him in a tie for third on the leaderboard, he slipped to 132nd place in the standings and finished roughly 40 points out of the playoff picture.
Jeff Quinney, who arrived at No. 127, only moved up one spot on the list and finished about 3 points shy of making the postseason field with his 12 under.
"I could have taken care of my own business today," Quinney said.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
260 Arjun Atwal (Ind) 61 67 65 67
261 David Toms 64 68 65 64
262 Justin Leonard 68 63 66 65, John Rollins 64 65 68 65, Michael Sim (Aus) 66 68 66 62, John Mallinger 65 67 68 62
263 Lucas Glover 64 65 67 67
264 Chris Riley 67 69 64 64, Scott Piercy 66 66 64 68, Brandt Snedeker 63 65 69 67, Webb Simpson 66 64 71 63.
265 Will MacKenzie 68 64 65 68, Scott McCarron 65 68 63 69, Joe Durant 68 67 66 64, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 67 67 69 62, Tim Petrovic 66 68 66 65, Garrett Willis 66 66 65 68
266 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 64 68 68 66, Michael Letzig 66 68 67 65, Aron Price (Aus) 67 69 65 65, Tim Herron 67 64 69 66, Kevin Streelman 64 65 70 67, Kevin Na 66 71 61 68, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 67 66 65 68, Marc Leishman (Aus) 66 66 70 64, Tom Gillis 69 67 64 66, Josh Teater 66 68 67 65
267 Bob Estes 66 70 65 66, Kirk Triplett 69 68 67 63, Bill Haas 69 65 65 68, Chad Collins 68 67 67 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 66 67 65 69, James Driscoll 67 67 67 66
268 Jerry Kelly 66 67 66 69, J J Henry 71 66 67 64, Jason Dufner 66 69 68 65, Jeff Quinney 66 70 64 68, Martin Laird (Sco) 67 65 66 70, Brett Wetterich 70 66 68 64, Jonathan Byrd 66 66 68 68
269 Brian Stuard 69 66 66 68, Garth Mulroy (S Africa) 68 68 65 68, Alex Prugh 69 64 67 69, Mark Wilson 68 67 67 67, John Daly 68 68 69 64, Drew Weaver 67 70 64 68, Jason Gore 65 69 70 65, D.J. Trahan 69 68 66 66
270 Jerry Jr. Richardson 70 66 67 67, Glen Day 67 67 65 71, Briny Baird 66 68 68 68, Troy Merritt 67 70 66 67
271 Spencer Levin 65 67 71 68, Kent Jones 66 70 69 66, Paul Stankowski 67 67 69 68, Greg Owen (Eng) 69 67 65 70, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 66 69 68 68, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 68 69 66 68, Cameron Beckman 67 69 65 70, Boo Weekley 64 67 71 69, Rocco Mediate 70 67 67 67, Troy Matteson 68 67 68 68, Frank Lickliter II 70 67 68 66
272 James Nitties (Aus) 67 68 66 71
273 Charles Warren 67 69 69 68, John Merrick 68 67 69 69, Omar Uresti 69 66 69 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 67 68 70 68, Skip Kendall 66 70 68 69, Blake Adams 65 71 69 68
274 Steve Marino 69 65 74 66, Chris DiMarco 67 68 68 71, Derek Lamely 70 66 66 72
275 Michael Connell 66 69 68 72
276 Kris Blanks 69 68 69 70, Robert Garrigus 69 66 71 70
277 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 70 65 73 69
280 Jay Williamson 65 70 72 73
Labels: US PGA TOUR, US PRO TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, August 22, 2010
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