Indiaâs Arjun Atwal credited his friendship with Tiger Woods and the strong family support for restoring his former glory after he won the Dubai Open last weekend.
Victory at the inaugural US$500,000 Asian Tour event was especially sweet for the 41-year-old as it has been four years since his historic win at the 2010 Wyndham Championship on the PGA TOUR that he last tasted success.
âI canât believe Iâm saying this, but to have won today is maybe an even greater feeling as it has always been my lifetime goal was to win on the PGA TOUR,â said Atwal in his victory speech.
Beset by injuries and losing his card on the PGA TOUR, Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, has been struggling to get back to his best in the last four years, relying on the goodwill of sponsors to tee up at events.
âAll the tournaments I played in this year were on sponsorâs invites this year. This (Dubai Open) was my fifth invite in a row actually. Iâm thankful to all the sponsors that have given me invites.Â
âThank God I donât have to do that again. I never thought that I would be asking for invites on the Asian Tour,â said Atwal, who had also harboured thoughts of calling time on the sport which he picked up at the age of 14.
It took his strong family support to see some of Atwalâs old magic return at the majestic Els Club Dubai last week.
âItâs been my dad, my wife and my whole family who has been really supportive of me. Especially during those really dark days when I really didnât think I could play anymore. But they never let me believe that I wouldnât be playing anymore.
âI could come back to India and work with my dad and it would be all right, but itâs been good. They have been really supportive,â said Atwal.Â
Like his good friend Woods who is also seeking to rediscover his brilliance on the golf course, Atwal is thankful the close friendship he shares with the former world number one has brought him back to his playing best.
âYou know, weâve become like really, really close. Him going through his stuff and me struggling the last couple of years, weâve been there for each other.Â
âItâs almost to the point where weâre like thereâre very few friends in the world that will be there for you when you need them the most, and heâs one of them. And Iâm there for him, as well,â said Atwal.
While plans are still sketchy for the Florida-based Indian in the United States, he knows he will be a regular fixture on the regionâs premier Tour come 2015 after earning a priceless two-year winnerâs exemption.
âI donât have any plans yet for 2015 but I want to still play on the PGA TOUR. Thatâs always my goal because I live there now and my kids are going to school there.Â
âIf my game gets good enough, obviously Iâm going to try and give it a go over there. But Iâm going to play on the Asian Tour next year,â said Atwal.