Atwal becomes first Indian to win on Tour

Arjun Atwal savoured becoming the first Indian golfer to win a European Tour event after cruising to his maiden victory in the Caltex Singapore Masters.

Atwal carded a final round 68 at Laguna National for a comfortable five-shot victory over Australian left-hander Richard Green, with a resurgent Nick Faldo a shot further back in third place.

In only his 18th European Tour event, Atwal's 14-under-par total of 274 gave him the first prize of £104,806 and a valuable two-year exemption.

Faldo was gifted outright third when American Jim Johnson ran up a double bogey six on the last, the six-time major winner now boasting finishes of 10th, sixth and third in his last three events.

But the day belonged to Atwal, and the result was never in doubt after he birdied the fifth and seventh to move three shots clear, a further birdie on the ninth and a bogey from Green on the 10th leaving the 28-year-old from Calcutta five ahead.

Another birdie on the 11th stretched Atwal's lead to six shots before Faldo's fourth birdie in a row on the 14th took him alongside Green into second place, five off the pace.

Faldo bogeyed the 17th to drop back to third while Atwal has the luxury of finishing with seven pars to complete a comfortable victory, his first in Europe after three on the Asian Tour.

"I've been playing well and was in contention in the Dunhill Championship in South Africa after three rounds and up there after two rounds the week before in Durban," said Atwal, who speaks with an American accent after years studying in New York and Orlando.

"I also led with nine to play in the Myanmar Open on the Asian Tour two weeks ago and with three to play in the Honda Masters last week.

"So I expected to win this year but not so quickly, but I'll definitely take it. It feels great and it's quite an achievement to be the first Indian golfer to win on the European Tour.

"It's great to have that exemption for two years, I don't have to worry about keeping my card and I can pick and choose which events I want to play in."

Atwal only earned his tour card at the qualifying school in November after pulling out of the last round of the Dunhill Links championship in order to try and qualify to play on the USPGA Tour.

"Hopefully my win will do wonders for Indian golf," he added.

"We have had a bunch of guys winning on the Asian tour but to do so on the European Tour is a whole different ball game and it shows young players in India there is a future for them."

Faldo was heartened by his third top 10 in a row, third place equalling his best finish of the last four seasons on the European Tour.

The 44-year-old birdied four holes in a row from the 11th, but after going out in 37 to Atwal's 33, was too far behind to challenge.

"All in all it was a good week because I struggled with the swing, struggled with the workload and the heat," said Faldo, still searching for his first win since the Nissan Open in 1997.

"So maybe when I get the chance to put my feet up and think about it, and work on a few bits, it is all good stuff to put in the memory banks.

"It's nice to be up there. Really good for me to play under pressure and find out what works. I'm going to stick with it, I'm not going with mess with it.

"The big breakthrough is going to be when I can stand up and know what I am going to do, I mean really know what I am going to do. That will be a big step forward.

"If I can get that in the next couple of weeks then I've got to believe I will be knocking on the door."

Faldo's final round of 70 was matched by Green in second place, the 31-year-old from Melbourne enjoying his best finish since winning the Dubai Desert Classic in 1997.

"It was probably better than expected," admitted Green.

"I haven't been playing that great in Australia but things have been turning around with a new putter and going back to my old gear.

"I had my chances today but I probably made two mistakes which cost me. Arjun has had his day and was always going to be hard to beat. You needed something to go wrong to give me a chance of winning.

"But it's almost £70,000 from the £100,000 you need to keep your card and that takes the pressure off early.

"The competition to keep your card is getting better and better and you have to work hard for it."

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