Arjun Atwal, playing his first PGA Tour event in 2016 and only the second of the current 2015-16 wrap-around season, shot two-over 72 in the opening round of FedEx St. Jude Classic Golf tournament.
Anirban Lahiri, who is due to play the US Open next week, is taking a week off and hoping to come back refreshed for the year’s second Major.
Atwal, the only Indian winner on the PGA Tour, has lost his Tour card and is trying to find that form again to get back into the elite Tour. He had two birdies and four bogeys.
After 12 holes he was even par, but bogeys on 13th and 18th saw him end the day at 72 at the Par-70 TPC Southwind.
Shawn Stefani, Tom Hoge and Seung-Yul Noh shared the lead at five-under 65. Stefani was the lone player teeing off in the afternoon to work his way into a tie for the lead and stay there. He was 5 under between Nos. 7 and 10 with an eagle at No. 9 where Stefani was just trying to avoid the water with the hole tucked left.
Dustin Johnson, the 2012 champ here, was in the group at 66 with Steve Stricker, Jamie Donaldson, Colt Knost, Brian Gay and Miguel Angel Carballo. Retief Goosen, Scott Stallings and Justin Leonard — all shot 67s. Phil Mickelson matched defending champion Fabian Gomez of Argentina at 70.
