21-12-2014
Arjun Atwal claims inaugural Dubai Open title, returns to winning ways after four years
India’s Arjun Atwal won the Asian Tour’s inaugural Dubai Open in a nail-biting finish to return to winning ways after four years. Atwal blasted a six-under-66 in the final round to end up the victor by one shot at 16-under-272. Korean Wang Jeung-hun finished runner-up at 15-under-273.
The Indian duo of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur finished tied 11th at 10-under-278.
Arjun Atwal (73-65-68-66), one of four overnight leaders at the last tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season, was looking good on the front-nine as he made four birdies. He then added four more birdies on the back-nine and conceded only two bogeys to wrap up his 10th international win which was also his eighth on the Asian Tour.
Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, trailed by one heading into the par five 18th hole at the magnificent Els Club Dubai but emerged victorious with a closing birdie while a nervous Wang posted a six following a wayward second shot which ended in a bush.
“This one feels really special,” beamed the 41-year-old Atwal, whose last victory came at the 2010 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour.
“I think the last time I won on the Asian Tour was 2008 (Maybank Malaysian Open). I've gone through some really tough times the last few years with injuries and losing my card on the PGA TOUR and all that stuff. It was at a point where I almost wanted to quit. Thanks to a few of my family and friends, I didn't, and here we are.”
After opening his week with a 73, Atwal said his putting clicked that he needed only 27, 24 and 25 putts over the last three rounds after taking 34 strokes on day one. “I just found a little something in my putting. I adjusted to something that I used to do because the greens in Asia are a little bit slower than the ones I'm used to on the PGA TOUR. Just making that adjustment got me rolling the ball a little bit better, so I made some putts,” he said.
Ajun’s victory on Sunday was the 66th by an Indian at the international level. It was also the seventh international win by an Indian in 2014. Six of the seven wins have come on the Asian Tour with Anirban Lahiri and Rashid Khan bagging two titles each and SSP Chowrasia claiming one before this event. Chikkarangappa added to this list by winning on the Asian Development Tour this year.
The-19-year-old Wang, who has not missed a single cut this season, produced a flawless outward 31 and led by three shots at one stage before his late blemishes. He opened the door for Atwal with a second bogey of the day on 17 when he three-putted before missing a 10-foot par attempt on the last hole.
The Korean youngster paid dearly for a poor three wood second shot into the final green which ended up in a bush in the desert wasteland and failed to get up and down to force a play-off.
Shiv Kapur, who was also one of four overnight leaders along with Atwal, Wang and Jbe Kruger, shot an even-par-72 in the final round to slip to tied 11th at 10-under-278.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, who began the day in tied fifth, joined Kapur in tied 11th position after a final round of one-under-71.
Jeev Milkha Singh produced a four-under-68 on day four to climb from overnight tied 40th to tied 31st. He signed off with a tournament total of six-under-282.
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