After stellar round, Atwal says still shaking off rust

nDETROIT: Indian golfer Arjun Atwal said getting back his fitness was key to his improved performance at the Rocket Mortgage Classic here in Detroit.

After a solid third-round card of 6-under 66 on Saturday, that leapfrogged him to the top 20, the 47-year-old said: “I am feeling great. When I came back at the start of the year from India, I was like 205 pounds. Working on my fitness was my goal for the year. Eating well, working out, weights; no alcohol and so on. I came down to 185, which is what I was in my first season on the PGA in 2004. I’m still trying to shake off the rust as well. I haven’t walked because when I’m playing at home, it’s mainly in carts.”

But even while shaking off the rust, Atwal, at one stage, went from almost missing the cut to sharing the lead for a brief period. When he finished the third round on Saturday, Atwal was Tied-4th, but later as the others teed off and took advantage of a low-scoring day, Atwal ended T-19. Atwal (70-69-66) is now 11-under.

“A pity it had to finish like that with a three-putt, just like the start. That’s three three-putts this week and two in a single day,” he said. His three-putts came on first and 18th.

“A couple of weeks ago, I hurt myself in the ribs, while doing weights. I did play nine holes with friends but I stopped because I did not feel great. So the past two weeks before coming here I barely lifted a club. I hit well but didn’t putt too well, though I holed some big ones. That putt on 18 from 60 feet had so many ups and downs and twists and the speed was 14. I hit it well but was 10-12 feet short. The second putt stopped at the top of the lip. That hurt,” said Atwal.

Saturday’s best show came from Matthew Wolff (64) who led at 19-under by three shots over Ryan Armour (67) and Bryson Dechambeau (67).