Chopra joint leader, Atwal continues dismal show at Western Open

Lemont, Illinois, July 7 (UNI) Daniel Chopra got off to his best start of the season so far as he carded a five-under 66 to be tied for the top spot, while Arjun Atwal continued to struggle with a horrendous three-over 74 to share the 118th position after the first round of the five-million dollar Cialis Western Open here.

A 10th tee starter, Chopra's only disappointment of the day was a bogey on the 12th as he went into joint lead with three others and finished ahead of veterans like American Phil Mickelsen (67) and Filjian Vijay Singh (67).

The Indian-born Swede was in prime form as he fired an eagle on the 15th after a birdie on the 13th to be two-under at the halfway mark.

He improved himself further after that as he completed a blemish-free front-nine studded with three birdies -- including a brace on the third and fourth -- to end the day at the top of the leaderboard.

In contrast, it was another poor opening for Atwal, who will once again struggle to make the cut at the event.

Though the Orlando-based Indian -- playing his back-nine first -- started well with a birdie on the 10th but a double-bogey on the 13th coupled with two more dropped shots on the 14th and 16th meant that he was once again left with an uphill task of recovering in his other-nine.

Atwal was off to a good start in his front-nine gaining a shot on the second but a brace of bogeys on the sixth and seventh did the damage and a birdie on the ninth proved too little too late as he could not prevent an over-par finish at the tournament.

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