Arjun Atwal became the first Indian and just the sixth Asian-born player to win on the PGA Tour when he secured a one-stroke victory at the Wyndham Championship Sunday. Atwal joined Japanese trio Isao Aoki, Shigeki Maruyama and Ryuji Imada and South Koreans K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang in an elite but growing club of champions from world's most populous continent. The 37-year-old, who now lives in Florida, sank a pressure-packed seven-foot par putt at the final hole to edge American David Toms at Sedgefield. His final round of 67 left him on 20-under 260, ignited by an opening day 61. Toms closed with a 64. “It was a long-time dream of mine to win out here but until it happens you keep doubting yourself and, believe me, I had my doubts teeing up today, even with a three-shot lead,” Atwal, who took up golf at the age of 14 in Calcutta, told reporters. “Until you do it, you don't know. My swing wasn't feeling all that great today. It was a little tight (but) I just grinded it out and got it done somehow.” Atwal believes his victory will resonate in his homeland. “I'm pretty sure it's going to be huge back home,” he said. “My in-laws called my wife yesterday and said the coverage was just unreal with me leading. “I know there were a lot of people in India and Dubai that watched me play. I've had a lot of messages.” Atwal was part of what at one stage was a seven-way tie for the lead, but he went ahead with a birdie at the 16th and came to the par-four 18th knowing a par would win. After driving into the rough, he deliberately lashed a utility club up against the skyboxes beyond the green from where he was granted a free drop. He hit an adequate but not great chip but caught a lucky break when fellow competitor Scott McCarron had to putt first on the same line. Atwal's friend, Tiger Woods, sent a text message Saturday night suggesting he try to finish on 21-under. In the end, Atwal came up one shot shy of that. Fast-finishing Toms birdied three of the final four holes for lone second place on 19-under, with Americans Justin Leonard, John Rollins and John Mallinger and Australian Michael Sim in a tie for third on 18-under. Atwal, who did not even have exempt status on tour, only got into this event via a qualifier for four spots last Monday. He became the first Monday qualifier to win on tour since 1986 and his rewards include $918,000, a two-year tour exemption and an invitation to next year's Masters, a tournament he has never played. But Atwal is not exempt for the four-event FedEx Cup play-off series that starts Thursday. Fifth win for Miyazato Japan's Ai Miyazato posted her fifth win of the year and reclaimed the world number one ranking by capturing the LPGA Safeway Classic at Portland Sunday. Miyazato shot an even-par 72 to finish at 11-under 205, two strokes in front of American Cristie Kerr and South Korean Choi Na-yeon. Kerr was ranked number one heading into the Portland tournament. Kerr shot a 70, and Choi had a 71 on the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club course. Miyazato, who led all three rounds, is among five players who have been battling for the No. 1 ranking, including Kerr, Shin Ji-yai, Suzann Pettersen and Tseng Yani. The event was hit by controversy Saturday when veteran Juli Inkster, in strong position to contend in the final round, was disqualified. The 50-year-old Hall of Famer was spotted by a fan using a weighted training aid on her club to stay loose while waiting for 30 minutes to make the turn at the 10th hole. Kerr saw her chances of keeping the number one ranking disappear on the final hole when she put her approach shot in the water. Miyazato and Kim, playing in the final pairing of the day, battled on the back nine. Kim pulled even with a birdie on No. 11 but then fell back with consecutive bogeys on 13 and 14. Pettersen (69) and Kim Song-hee (72) finished at eight under. Tseng, who the Women's British Open on August 1 for her second major victory of the season, finished the event at two over. LPGA spokesperson Sue Witters said they disqualified Inkster Saturday after receiving an email from a fan watching the event on television. Inkster wasn't told about the infraction on the No. 10 hole until after she finished her round.
