June 11, 2016: It seems like Christmas has arrived early this year, at least for Indian golf. First, we woke up to the news of Jeev Milkha Singh being invited to the US Open in Oakmont. Then there was a brilliant round of golf by Chiragh Kumar despite the brutal winds in Austria. Last night, Arjun Atwal made it even sweeter with a terrific 68 in the St Jude Classic. Arjun was facing the cut after posting two over 72 in the first round, but surged 44 spots on the leaderboard to safely navigate his way into the weekend. Daniel Berger shot 64 to snatch a three shot lead at the halfway stage.
This is only the second event for Arjun on the PGA TOUR this season. The 43 year old is working his way back after being sidelined through injury and loss of form. He shot 72-72 in the first two rounds of the Sanderson Farms Championship, narrowly missing the cut in November last year.
St Jude Classic: Arjun Atwal rises 44 spots in the second round
Starting on the 10th hole Arjun squeezed in three birdies between bogeys at the 11th and 17th to turn at one under par for the round. With the cut expected at one over, Atwal was still living on the edge, the sword hanging over his neck.
Arjun strengthened his chances with back to back birdies at the second and third holes, wiping away the damage from the first round and going one under overall.
A late bogey at the par-4 sixth dragged him back to even par, but that was enough to help Atwal rise 44 spots to T47 and into the weekend.
Phil Mickelson sounded out a warning just ahead of the US Open with a terrific 65 on Friday to gain 37 spots to T3 with Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. The three men are lying one shy of Tom Hoge, who is six under and four back from Berger.
