Atwal finishes commendable tied 7th in Byron Nelson C'ship

Arjun Atwal announced his return to form by securing his career's second best finish in a US PGA Tour event, signing off tied seventh with an even-par 70 in the final round of the HP Byron Nelson Golf Championship in Irving, US.

The Orlando-based Indian, whose last top-10 finish came in the 2006 Buick Invitational where he ended tied fourth, signed off with a total of six-under 274 in Irving.

The other Indian in fray, Jeev Milkha Singh finished tied 32nd with a total of one-under 279 after returning a two-over 72 in the final round that comprised just one birdie against three bogeys.

Atwal's career had been going downhill due to lack of form and injury breakdowns and this finish has given him the much-needed fillip.

On a mixed day, Atwal found three birdies and an equal number of bogeys. The birdies came on the fourth, seventh and 12th holes, while he dropped shots on the third ninth and 15th.

But the effort was good enough to secure the 2003 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner his best finish so far this season.

Australian Jason Day clinched the trophy by two strokes.

Day returned his first over-par card of the week, a two-over 72, but still ended with a two-stroke lead over the rest. The Australian's four-day total stood at 10-under 270.

Americans Brian Gay (63), Jeff Overton (71) and Blake Adams (72) were locked in a three-way tie for the second spot.