Dubai, Dec 21: Ending a frustrating four-year title drought, Arjun Atwal Sunday won the inaugural $5,00,000 Dubai Open in style by one stroke after Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun bogeyed the final hole here.
Atwal, who was playing his fifth straight invite this week, ended the dramatic final round by signing off at six-under 66 with eight birdies and two bogeys to total 16-under 272 to collect the winner’s cheque of $90,000.
The former Asian Tour number one held on his nerves as he made a bogey on the 17th and trailed Wang by a shot on the final hole. However, Atwal set himself up for a birdie and converted to get back to winning ways.
This is the eighth victory for Atwal on the Asian Tour and has come after four years since he had won the Wyndham Championship on the USPGA Tour in 2010.
“I had a forgetful first round after a 73 but then I took each round at a time. And as my putts started to fall, I gained confidence,” said the champion.
“I am thankful for all my supporters, my family, my friends for being there for me and having reposed the confidence in me,” he added.
After shooting himself into contention at the end of 54-holes, Atwal opened his account with a birdie while also saving strokes in the third and fourth holes.
With a birdie on the eighth, Atwal took the turn at four-under. A bogey greeted him on the back nine. However, Atwal made a hat-trick of birdies beginning from the 13th to be in hunt for the title. The bogey on the 17th dwindled his hopes just a bit but destiny had something different written for Atwal.
Meanwhile, overnight joint leader Shiv Kapur crumbled to a final round of even par 72 with three birdies and three bogeys to drop to tied 11th position alongwith Gaganjeet Bhullar (71). Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 31st at six-under 282 with a final round 68 and Atwal’s friend in US, Daniel Chopra (70) finished tied 35th at five-under 283.
AGENCIES