JDC: Arjun Atwal shoots 69 in R1

Report by Anand Datla

July 10, 2015: Arjun Atwal shot two under 69 to give himself a fair chance at a full week in Illinois. Jordan Spieth shot an even par 71 to get off the blocks at the John Deere Classic. But he is eight off the pace, even as many wonder if Spieth is doing the right thing, ahead of the third leg of his major hunt. The Open begins next week at the St. Andrews and Spieth is on course to complete a calendar grand slam, having won the first two majors. Justin Thomas and Nicholas Thompson held a one shot lead over the field, after making 63 on Thursday.

“Just a rusty round,” Spieth he said of a 71 he salvaged only with back-to-back birdies on the TPC Deere Run backside. “My first round of 18 holes since the U.S. Open was yesterday, and, you know, I certainly saw a lot of rust yesterday,’’ he said of his pro-am trip on Wednesday. “This was actually a slight improvement today.”

The John Deere Classic’s star attraction will head off the 10th tee at 8:50 a.m. ET Friday morning in search of a second-round effort that will better serve his preparation for the year’s third major championship next week in Scotland.

Having won the Masters and U.S. Open, the 21-year-old Spieth will be looking to join fellow Texan Ben Hogan as the only players to win the first three legs of the modern Grand Slam.

“Just looking to get a little better each day,” he said. “I’m going to have to do a little better than 2-for-(5) on up-and-downs in order to play the weekend. It was obviously a disappointing round, but I should have gotten out on the golf course a little more rather than hitting balls on the range. I just haven’t carried it over.”

Atwal started on the 10th and fell to one over when he made bogey at the 12th. He made quick amends though, sinking his third shot on the par-4 14th hole to get even with the course. Atwal made three birdies in the first five holes of the return stretch and even though he signed off with a bogey at the ninth hole, he should be a satisfied man. But TPC Deere Run was in a generous mood and with plenty of low scores on offer, Atwal was lying T61, needing a solid second round to ensure his stay for the weekend.

Thomas and Thompson were a stroke ahead of Charles Howell III and Luke Guthrie. Three-time tournament winner Steve Stricker led the list of golfers at 6 under.

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Source: PGA TOUR