Arjun Atwal finishes in a tie for fifth at Senior Open in Carnoustie

File photo of Arjun Atwal who was in good nick in the The Senior Open at Carnoustie, Scotland. Image courtesy X.

By Rahul Banerji

Arjun Atwal closed with a 4 over par 76 to take a share of fifth place at The Senior Open in Carnoustie, Scotland, on Sunday, the best finish by an Indian at a senior major.

South Korea’s K.J. Choi, the overnight leader by a shot, held on to win the year’s final senior major by two strokes from Richard Green of Australia with a 10 under par 278 total.

England’s Paul Broadhurst (70), the 2016 event winner was third with a 6 under 282 while Canadian Stephan Ames was fourth.

Atwal totalled 2 under 286 alongside six others including former Ryder Cup captains Thomas Bjørn, Pádraig Harrington and Bernhard Langer.

Choi, who became the first Korean to win a senior major, said later, “I prayed all week.

Nervous start

“Either way I started very nervous and some speed was off, which was the difference … I kept my attention and prayed. I felt more comfortable in the swing.”

Atwal (75-68-67-76) was third overnight with a superb 5 under 67 on Saturday but opened Sunday with a double bogey to fall off the pace early on the demanding Carnoustie Golf Links.

He would drop two more shots to make the turn on 4 over 40 and then endure a chaotic back nine that contained just one par against four birdies and four bogeys for his eventual 4 over 76.

Choi, 54, also started shakily with three dropped shots by the sixth hole but steadied the round with birdies on holes 8 and 10, back to back gains on 12 and 13 and then an eagled 14^th that put him four strokes ahead of the field.

It was good enough to keep him ahead of Green by two strokes at the end.

This was Atwal’s 13^th start on the PGA Champions Tour and his best finish – also by any Indian – in a senior major.

Also read: Arjun Atwal is back where it began, and hungry as ever