Atwal starts with modest 71 in Barbasol, Chopra 15th

Nicholasville (USA): Arjun Atwal was two-over after the first four holes but did well to recover to end at one-under 71 and tied 77th after the first round of the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship.

He would need a good second round to make the cut in the event that is held opposite to the Open Championships. Atwal, starting on the tenth, dropped shots on 11th and 13th, but he made up with birdies on 14 and 15. On the second nine, he birdied third and eighth to be two-under but bogeyed the ninth, his last hole finish with 71.

Daniel Chopra had six birdies against one bogey for five-under 67 and he was Tied-15th. JT Poston shot a 10-under 62 on Thursday to take the first-round lead. He birdied six of the first eight holes at rain-softened Keene Trace. Canadian Nick Taylor was a stroke back. The Canadian had an eagle and seven birdies in a bogey-free round and Wes Roach opened with a 64.

John Daly shot a 71, following a triple bogey on the par-4 fourth with an eagle on the par-5 fifth. Fighting osteoarthritis in his right knee, Daly was denied a cart by the R&A for the Open Championship but has been approved for a cart at PGA TOUR events until the end of the year. The tournament winner will receive a spot in the PGA Championship.