Back in familiar territory, Arjun Atwal produced a vintage performance in the opening round of the Wyndham Championship. The 2010 champion played some lights out golf, making five birdies for a rousing opening act. Anirban Lahiri, back in action after several months of COVID19 fueled hibernation, came to a steady 69. Harold Varner III, Tom Hoge and Roger Sloan produced matching 62s for a two-stroke advantage over Harris English.
Atwal was four-under through 16 holes. But just as he was set for a solid round, he suffered a double bogey at the 17th hole to fall back to 2-under.
Anirban Lahiri worked his game, one link at a time, with his coach and mentor Vijay Divecha during his time in India during the coronavirus related lockdown.
Lahiri put the ball in play, 10 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation.
Anirban made a move on the the 545-yard par-5 15th. He had two putts for birdie after reaching the green in two. But he suffered an unexpected dent, when he missed from four feet and conceded a bogey at the 442-yard par-4 second.
But the highlight of the day was a monstrous 37 foot birdie at the 174-yard par-3 third hole to return into under-par territory. In the end it was a disciplined round of golf from Anirban, clearly feeling his way back after a long hiatus.
In the lead, Varner III, made eight birdies as he produced a bogey free effort to start the week. The three men at the top of the leaderboard – Varner III, Hoge and Sloan – are still searching for their maiden PGA TOUR victory.
PGA TOUR Notes
Sloan soared into the top tier at Wyndham with six birdies in his first eight holes. He was solid around the greens, making 186’7” of putts, the most of any player at Sedgefield CC since 2008. He joins Sergio Garcia (180′ 10″/R1/2018) as the only players to make over 180’ of putts in a round at Sedgefield CC during the Wyndham Championship
