Atwal flirts with danger but pulls into weekend rounds at 3M Open

By Rahul Banerji

It needed two brave shots to ensure a continued Indian presence at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, as some big names tumbled out of contention on Friday.

Arjun Atwal had flirted with danger on day one with a 2-over 73 but a strong second day performance saw him make the cut at TPC Twin Cities at 2-under 140 and in a share of 51^st place.

Atwal started day two with a run of four birdies on the front nine and then added a fifth shortly after making the turn. That run pulled him into contention for the weekend rounds.

With the cut line hovering around 2-under par, Atwal then dropped a shot with three holes to go when he missed a par putt on the 16^th. Two superb saves, particularly the one in the 18^th, however, saw him to safety.

The second, in particular after he had found the bunker on the 17^th and made a slid par, was edge of the seat stuff. Atwal found water with his tee shot to the right of the fairway.

3M Open

Off the resultant penalty drop, he hit the green and two-putted for a much needed par, that was in the end good enough to see the 47-year-old into the money rounds.

“It was really one hell of a shot under the circumstances,” he would say later. “I hit a 3-wood into a 20 mph left-to-right wind to the left-back pin from 256 yards! Almost made a birdie there.”

Missing out

Not so fortunate were the likes of Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Casey and Bubba Watson. There will, however, be one Koepka still in the fray with Brooks’ brother Casey going through in tied 33^rd place.

Richy Werenski and Michael Thompson led the way on 12-under 130s, with form man Tony Finau and Talor Gooch a shot behind.

Poised to make a bit of Asian history was China’s Xinjung Zhang in tied fifth place, two shots behind the leaders.

The 33-year-old from mainland China had five birdies against a lone bogey for a 67 following an opening 65 on Thursday. If he does go on to win, Zhang will be the first PGA Tour winner from his country.

Zhang’s association with the game dates back to the days he was a security guard at a golf course and then took up caddying.

From those roots in the city of Xi’an all the way to Minnesota now and over $3 million in career earnings makes for a remarkable story.

Also read: Jeev reflects on a productive career, says self-belief is key