Richy Werenski (Getty Images) and Arjun Atwal (file picture)
Blaine, MN, US, July 24: Arjun Atwal got off to a disappointing start with two-over 73 in the first round of the 3M Open on Thursday. Atwal, who last year came into this same event through a Monday qualifier and contended for three days was not in the same rhythm. He was Tied-120th and needed a solid second round to ensure action over the weekend.
Richy Werenski, 28, shot a career-low-tying 63 with nine birdies, also his career-best, Michael Thompson hits all 18 greens in regulation in his bogey-free 64. A week after finishing eighth at the Memorial Tournament Tony Finau had seven birdies and one bogey in 65 and one of the seven players in Tied-third.
As Atwal shot 73, Indo-Swede Daniel Chopra and Indian-American Sahith Theegala, carded one over 72 each at the TPC Twin Cities course.
As the new World No. 1 Jon Rahm took a week off, former World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, now World No. 4 withdrew due to back injury after a 7-over 78 first round. Last week he shot 80-80 at the Memorial. Yet another former World No, 1 Brooks Koepka shot one-under 70 and was T-57. Tommy Fleetwood, former European No, 1 carded 71, who is making his first start after flying in from the UK and spending time in quarantine. He was T-82.
Atwal did find hit 10 of the 14 fairways and 11 of the 18 greens, but for a better part of the round he found himself in 12-20 feet range from the cup and did not hole most of them. He also missed a few times from inside 10 feet.
Starting from the 10th, Atwal birdied the 12th from eight feet but ran into rough weather on 17th and 18th as he took penalties on both. On the Par-3 17th he ended with a double bogey and on the Par-5 18th he got away with a par, where he could While he gave away a
on 17, he managed a par on 18th with a 17-foot par putt, which was also his longest putt to the day.
Atwal birdied sixth and 12th and dropped bogeys on seventh and ninth and double bogeyed 17th. Now
Defending 3M Open champion Matthew Wolff opened with 6-under 65.
Werenski making his 99th start is seeking his first career TOUR win, having twice finished second 2017 Barracuda Championship and 2018 Barbasol Championship.
China’s Xinjun Zhang shot 65 and was among the group at T-3 with five birdies and an eagle against a long bogey. Last week he was T10 at the Memorial Tournament after missing four earlier cuts.
Nick Watney, the first player to have tested positive for Covid-19, hit 16 of the 18 greens in his 65, which was one of the seven bogey free rounds of the day. He missed the cut last week at the 3M Open in his first start on return from the positive test.
Bo Van Pelt (66) aced No. 8 from 195 yards for his third career ace, which includes one at the 2012 Masters.
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Atwal, Chopra set for 3M Open on PGA Tour; Koepka, Johnson in the field
