Atwal slumps to tied 87th in Q-School, certain to miss US Tour card

California, Dec 4 (UNI) Arjun Atwal's chances of regaining his full playing rights in the US PGA Tour are all but over after the struggling Indian carded a horrendous five-over 77 to slump to the tied 87th spot after the fifth round of the Qualifying School Finals here.

With only one round to go in the event, the Indian, who has aggregated two-over 362 till now, is almost certain to miss the top-30 mark, which is requisite to earn PGA Tour cards for the next season.

Atwal lost his card after missing 18 cuts in the 33 events played this season and currently holds a conditional card, which allows him to participate in only 15 events next year.

The Orlando-based golfer stumbled to four bogeys and a double-bogey against a lone birdie as he came up with his worst show in the tournament so far.

Atwal was off to an ominous start as he dropped a shot on the first hole and the slump continued with a third-hole bogey. He managed to sink in a birdie on the fourth but that was to be the only bright spot in his nightmarish show.

The former Asian Tour number one dropped a shot on the fifth before sliding further with a double bogey on the eighth hole to make the turn at four-over.

His backward journey was no better as he failed to save a single shot and after a run of par shots till the 14th, Atwal messed up once again to drop a bogey on the 15th. The Indian parred the remaining holes as he completed a horrible day, which has almost ended his chances of finishing in the top-30.

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