Atwal at tied 45th in Stanford

Memphis, June 8 (UNI) India's ace golfer Arjun Atwal lost his way till he fired two late birdies on the seventh and ninth holes at the front nine to finish at tied 45th in the opening round at the Stanford St Jude Championship here.

Starting at back nine, Atwal made the turn with even par but two bogies on the first and fourth holes put him on the backfoot.

The Indian's worst putt came when he took three more shots to complete the par four fifth hole but two timely birdies in the seventh and ninth holes saved the day for Atwal to end the day under gusting winds on three over 73 at the par-70 TPC Southwind Golf Course.

Swede Fredrik Jacobson shared the lead with Australia's Adam Scott with cards of three-under-par 67.

Jacobson, bidding for his first PGA Tour title after joining the circuit in 2003, made the most of his bright start in tough conditions with two birdies from his first three holes.

World number four Scott joined him at the top of the leaderboard late in the day with a scorecard featuring a double-bogey and an eagle in his first three holes.

Twice US Open champion Retief Goosen and American Brian Gay carded 68s to share third place, one stroke better than two more Americans, Scott Verplank and Duffy Waldorf, and Australian Gavin Coles.

Australia's Andrew Buckle, who finished fifth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit last season, had an even-par, firing three birdies against an equal number of bogeys to finish tied eighth position.

UNI