The Hindu : Atwal staves off giant-killer Virk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

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Sport - Golf

Atwal staves off giant-killer Virk

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 10. The chips were down for Arjun Atwal, but the Asian PGA Tour leader resurrected himself and bested the giant-killer Jaiveer Virk for a place in the semifinals of the SRF all-India Matchplay golf championship, at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Thursday.

Two rounds in a day — some ventured all the way to the second play-off hole — seemingly took the toll of most of the pros.

Top seeded Atwal made a horrible start to go three down after just six holes, but he crawled his way up into the match and won it on the 18th.

The semifinal line-up in the top half of the draw has thrown up an interesting clash between two former Indian Open champions — Atwal versus Vijay Kumar. The other semifinal pits Kolkatans Rahil Gangjee and S.S.P. Chowrasia. Virk had taken out Gaurav Ghei on Wednesday and eighth seed Arjun Singh on Thursday morning. And, the kind of putting he was doing throughout the day, Virk seemed to be invulnerable. After beating the PGA Champion Arjun Singh on the 20th hole, Virk was the man to be wary of. Arjun Singh on Wednesday had prophetically said that Virk was a tough competitor on this course in a matchplay format. "I play a lot of matchplay type of golf every alternate day so I am comfortable with it,'' said Virk.

Against Atwal, Virk started splendidly by winning two holes from first five and went three up with a 40-foot birdie on the sixth. A fatigued Atwal, who is suffering from throat infection and unable to speak, started his recovery act on the par-five eighth. He was two on the green and won the hole as Virk strayed in the jungle.

Even though Virk putted immaculately, his lazed tee shots spoiled the party. Atwal gave himself yet another boost by winning the ninth on par to bring down the lead to just one hole at the turn. On the back nine, Virk made a fantastic chip-in birdie to go two-up. They halved the 11th, Arjun won the par-three 12th with a birdie and then evened the match by winning the next hole on par. Atwal and Virk halved the next three holes and just when it looked that the match may meander into a play-off, Atwal struck with a birdie on the par-three 17th. Here Virk overshot the green and flirted in the bushes in the right.

The hole was lost and that game was all over. Though the par-five 18th lay ahead, there was hardly anything Virk could do. Both were on the fairway from the tee shot and there was hardly any chance for a eagle to force the play-off.

The results: Quarterfinals: Arjun Atwal bt Jaiveer Virk 1 up; Vijay Kumar bt Vinod Kumar 6 and 4; Rahil Gangjee bt Pappan 2 and 1; S.S.P. Chowrasia bt Rafiq Ali 4 and 2. Pre-quarterfinals: Atwal bt Shiv Prakash 2 and 1; Virk bt Arjun Singh 20th hole; Vinod Kumar bt Yusuf Ali 2 and 1; Vijay Kumar bt Feroz Ali 20th hole; Gangjee bt S. Madaiah 3 and 2; Pappan bt Mohammed Islam 4 and 2; Rafiq bt Devendra Patel 1 up; Chowrasia bt Ashok Kumar 4 and 2.

Semifinal line-up: Atwal v Vijay Kumar; Gangjee v Chowrasia.

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