Indian golfer Arjun Atwal holds a one-shot lead after the second round of US PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic in Georgia.
Atwal carded a seven-under par round for a 10-under total with tournament host Davis Love and Jim Furyk in equal second.
First-round co-leader Bud Cauley carded an even par round and was tied for fourth place at eight-under with David Toms and Australian Gavin Coles, who fired a five-under round.
Love, trying to get past the disappointment of America’s Ryder Cup defeat, carded a four-under 66 while Furyk had a five-under 65.
The tournament is the penultimate PGA Tour event that counts toward the money list. The top 125 on the list earn full playing privileges for next season.
“Yeah, I’m in a desperate situation,” said Atwal, who is 175th on the money list.
“I’ve got no choice to either win or finish in the top two, I think my caddie figured out. So I’ve just got to grind it out.”
Atwal had eight birdies and one bogey. He hit 14 greens in regulation and needed just 25 putts.
His birdie putts included efforts of 17, 13 and 20 feet.
“Oh, it feels great. I don’t even know how many I made,” said Atwal, who recently changed his grip – moving his hands higher in order to get over the ball better at address.
Love, who captained the US Ryder Cup team that lost to Europe last month, used a belly putter to good effect.
“I’ve been messing around with this putter for well over a year, I just haven’t had the nerve to put it in play,” Love said.
Furyk, too, is bouncing back in his first tournament since the Ryder Cup.
He is also seeking a first Tour title since 2010, although he has had seven top-10 finishes this season.
“I have a lot of confidence in my ball striking right now, but you know, when you don’t play a lot, sometimes it’s the course management, making the good decisions,” Furyk said.