Arjun Atwal
Arjun Atwal of India won Dubai Open Golf championship by beating South Korean Wang Jeung-hun.
He has won the inaugural edition of Dubai Open Golf Championship title- 2014
Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, trailed by one heading into the par-five 18th hole but emerged victorious with a closing birdie while a nervous 19-year-old Wang posted a six following a wayward second shot which ended in a bush.
The 41-year-old Indian, one of four overnight leaders at the final tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season, ended the day of high drama by signing off with a six-under-par 66 and a winning total of 16-under-par 2727 while Wang carded for a 67. Scotsman Simon Yates took third place following a 68.
Other Indians in the fray, overnight leader Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar had a tough day and shared the 11th place with two others. While Shiv carded a par score to take his total to 10-under 278, Bhullar managed one-under 71.
Jeev Milkha Singh finished joint 31st with a four-under 68 which took his total to six-under 282.
However, the day belonged to Atwal. After opening his week with a 73, Atwal said his putting clicked that he needed only 27, 24 and 25 putts over the last three rounds after taking 34 strokes on day one.
“This one feels really special,” beamed Atwal, whose last victory came at the 2010 Wyndham Championship on the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour.
“I think the last time I won on the Asian Tour was 2008 (Maybank Malaysian Open). I’ve gone through some really tough times the last few years with injuries and losing my card on the PGA Tour and all that stuff. It was at a point where I almost wanted to quit. Thanks to a few of my family and friends, I didn’t, and here we are.”
Atwal paid tribute to Wang, who looked so much in control of the final round before dropping those late bogeys to hand the Indian his eighth Asian Tour title and the top cheque of $90,000.