Atwal chases American dream

Arjun Atwal is shooting for more golf history. He hopes to become the first player from India to play full-time on the elite US PGA Tour.

On Sunday, the Indian star claimed a thrilling one-stroke victory at the Hero Honda Masters on home soil to become the first player to surpass US$1 million in career earnings on the Asian PGA Tour.

Atwal is exempted into Stage Two of the US Qualifying School and will tee off at St Augustine, Florida from November 19-22.

The all-important final stage will be held from December 3-8.

"I've always wanted to play professional golf in America. That's where all the action is," said Atwal, who attended high school in New York and who still has a home in Long Island.

"I'm really happy with my game right now. I'm striking the ball well and winning on Sunday has given me a lot of confidence. I'll take that with me to America.

"Having achieved the milestone of becoming the first Asian to win a million dollars is nice but what matters more is the fact that I won," added the Indian, who has now accumulated US$1,016,352 on the Asian PGA circuit.

The Hero Honda Masters victory, his sixth title on the Asian PGA circuit, was worth US$48,450 and raised his season's earnings to US$282,193.

The Indian ace is now US$126,624 ahead of second-placed China's Zhang Lian-wei, who has a chance to narrow the gap at this week's Volvo China Open which Atwal is skipping. There are four events remaining on the Asian PGA Tour this season.

Asian PGA Executive Director Ramlan Haron hailed Atwal's feat.

"It is a great achievement for Arjun which will go down as one of our great moments on Tour. It is also another endorsement of how the Asian PGA Tour has helped develop the careers of Asia's rising stars.

"Over the years, we have continuously provided players with a platform to launch their careers where they can now play in tournaments with good prize-money. It's a pleasure to welcome Arjun as the first member of the Asian PGA Tour Million Dollar Club."

Topping the Asian PGA Tour money ranking this season will also help realize one of Atwal's ambitions of playing in a Major.

"I have not played in a Major," says Atwal. "If I win the Order of Merit, I would get into the British Open and I'm hoping to do that."

If he qualifies for the US Qualifying School Final Stage, Atwal will be available to play in only the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Thailand from December 11-14.

"I'll definitely be at the Volvo event as I want to wrap up the merit title," he said.

Last season, Atwal became the first Indian to win on the European Tour when he clinched victory in the Caltex Singapore Masters, presented by Carlsberg. He followed that up with an equally impressive triumph at the European Tour-sanctioned Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February where he held off South African Retief Goosen in the final round.

He played regularly on the European Tour this season where he finished 63rd on the Order of Merit with approximately US$387,000 in winnings.

But by next year, he hopes to be taking on the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh on a weekly basis in America.

Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit – Top 20