Atwal tees off hoping for PGA Tour exemption

La Quinta, California, Nov 29 (UNI) After a disastrous year, Arjun Atwal tees off at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament later today hoping to garner one of the 30 full exemptions to next year's tour.

The Orlando-based Indian has been paired with Bubba Dickerson and John Riegger for the first round.

This year has been a complete disaster for the Asansol-born golfer and his best outing came in the Buick Invitational where he finished tied fourth.

Atwal competed in 33 events, has just one top-10 and six top-25 finishes and could make the cut only in 15 events to finish 140th in the Money List.

In comparison, 2005 was a fairytale affair for the Indian, who finished tied second in Bell South Classic, had four top-10 and five top-25 finishes. He topped the putting average last year and bettered even Tiger Woods missing just one cut in the entire season.

Atwal, Asia's number one in 2003, has played full time in the US since 2004 but he finished 140th on the money this season. He still has conditional status on the PGA Tour which guarantees approximately 15 starts in the new season but the Indian star will be hoping to gain full exempt with a top finish at the Finals.

Apart from Atwal, some other familiar names would be hoping to get the exemptions from the Q school.

Among them will be Lee Janzen, a two-time winner of the US Open, 2004 Ryder Cup player Chris Riley and Carlos Franco, a four-time winner on Tour.

There are 15 golfers at the event who have won on the Tour, six of whom are multiple winners.

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