Arjun Atwal’s victory at the Wyndham Championship in August 2010 marked a historic milestone for Indian golf, as he became the first Indian golfer to win on the PGA Tour, one of the most prestigious golf circuits in the world.
Wyndham Championship, held at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. August 15, 2010. Atwal finished with a total score of 20-under-par 260, which was one stroke better than American David Toms.
Round 1: 61 (10-under-par)
Round 2: 67 (3-under-par)
Round 3: 65 (5-under-par)
Round 4: 67 (3-under-par)
His opening round of 61 was a course record and set the tone for the week.
Atwal collected $918,000, the highest prize ever earned by an Indian golfer at the time. Atwal became the first Monday qualifier in 26 years to win a PGA Tour event. He had to qualify on the Monday before the event as he didn’t have a full PGA Tour card for the 2010 season. This victory cemented his place in golf history and inspired young Indian golfers to pursue careers internationally.
Arjun Atwal, born on March 20, 1973, in Kolkata, India, started his professional golf career in 1995. Before his PGA Tour win, Atwal had achieved significant success in the Asian Tour, including becoming the Order of Merit winner in 2003. He has also won titles on the European Tour and other international circuits, including victories at:
The Malaysian Open (2003)
The Singapore Masters (2002)
The Maybank Malaysian Open (2008).
Atwal’s win at the Wyndham Championship is widely regarded as a turning point for Indian golf, paving the way for more Indian golfers like Anirban Lahiri, Shubhankar Sharma, and Aditi Ashok to excel on global platforms.
