Sunday, August 22, 2010
Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C.
Arjun Atwal had to play his way into the Wyndham Championship. He’s spent most of the week outplaying everyone else.
Atwal built a three-stroke lead Saturday through three rounds of the PGA Tour’s final pre-playoff event. He shot a 5-under 65 to reach 17-under 193, and he has either led or shared the lead after each of the first three days.
Not bad for someone who lost his tour card and had to win a qualifying tournament just to earn a spot at Sedgefield Country Club.
“I’m not your typical Monday qualifier,” Atwal said.
Scott McCarron closed his 63 with four consecutive birdies and was at 14 under along with Scott Piercy (64) and Lucas Glover (67). Will MacKenzie (65), Garrett Willis (65), David Toms (65), Justin Leonard (66), John Rollins (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were at 13 under.
Kevin Na matched the tournament record with a 61 in the morning to reach 12 under.
But without question, the story at Sedgefield has been Atwal.
The 37-year-old player from India may be winless on the big tour, but he has won on the European, Asian and Nationwide tours. Now he’s one good round away from becoming the first Monday qualifier to win the ensuing tournament since Fred Wadsworth at the 1986 Southern Open.
“I’ve never won on the PGA Tour, but I’ve won on almost every other tour I’ve played on,” Atwal said. “And I don’t see why it’s going to be different trying to win a tournament here. If I’m hitting it well, and I’m playing well (Sunday), I don’t see why I can’t win.”
Atwal has said his main goal this week was to move closer to securing his tour card for 2011. He lost the card last month because he was too low on the money list when his minor medical exemption ran out. That came after he returned too soon following weightlifting injuries to both shoulders.