Tiger Woods Can Learn From 182nd-Ranked Atwal: Scott Soshnick
Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Graham Hales, chief executive officer of Interbrand London, talks about the damage to Tiger Woods's brand after his divorce and tournament losses. Woods has played through the year without a single tournament win, putting him at 83rd on the PGA Tour’s money list. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "The Pulse" with Maryam Nemazee. (Source: Bloomberg)
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On paper, you’d think that Arjun Atwal was the lucky one.
After all it’s Atwal, the 182nd-ranked golfer in the world, who should thank his lucky 7 iron for the chance to practice alongside Tiger Woods, who, recent slump aside, has occupied the sport’s top spot for what seems like forever.
It’s Woods, not the India-born Atwal, who is the global face of golf. It’s Woods, not Atwal, who is Nike’s main man. There are no commercials in which children proclaim, “I am Arjun Atwal.” Maybe there should be, though.
If any professional golfer can connect with the masses it’s the 37-year-old Atwal, who last weekend became the first qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years. Atwal posted a final-round 67 to win the Wyndham Championship, finishing one shot better than 12-time Tour champion David Toms at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“His success will serve as an inspiration to many,” said Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman of the Asian Tour.
Right conclusion. Wrong premise.
Any inspiration derived from Atwal is due not to success alone, but struggle. Here’s a self-taught player, a weekend duffer who started late. He could’ve given up, but didn’t. Wouldn’t.
Unlike Woods, who was 2 years old and barely taller than his driver when he teed one up on the “Mike Douglas Show,” Atwal didn’t begin playing until age 14. Weekends only, when his father wasn’t working in coal mines. The sweat ethic rubbed off on the son who, even without dad, became a regular at the course. Every day. Alone.
Getting Better
“I just got this mentality that I had to get better than everyone else around me,” said Atwal, who left India for New York’s Long Island as a teenager.
Atwal’s coach in the New York suburbs befriended the club pros at Cantiague and Eisenhower Parks, where the kid with the golf bug showed up every day after school. Ten buckets, 100 balls each.
Whack. Whack. Whack.
Atwal got good enough to reach No. 1 on the Asian Tour, where players ride buses, and even won on the European Tour. But the PGA Tour is the pinnacle. Always has been to a kid dreaming in India. “Untouchable,” Atwal said. Speaking of obstacles, three years ago he was involved in what police described as a street racing incident that left another man dead. Atwal was eventually cleared of wrongdoing.
Beat the Best
Last year, his game was derailed by injuries to both shoulders, costing Atwal his PGA Tour eligibility. He could’ve returned to the European Tour. But that wasn’t the goal. He wanted to beat the best.
So he embarked on a tournament qualification process that requires Monday play, which presents its own difficulties. Earlier this month, for instance, his flight from Roanoke, Virginia, to Syracuse, New York, site of the Turning Stone Resort Championship, was delayed. So Atwal and his caddie rented a Toyota Camry and hit the road at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night. They arrived at Turning Stone at 6:30 a.m. -- more than enough time for a catnap in the parking lot and a cold shower before his 8 a.m. tee time. Atwal shot a 68.
“Don’t know how I did that,” he said. “I was determined to get my job back.”
He did. And then some.
Atwal got not only $918,000 for winning the Wyndham Championship, but a spot in next year’s Masters Tournament and a two-year qualifying exemption on the PGA Tour.
From untouchable to tangible.
Messages From Woods
Throughout the Wyndham week Atwal was receiving text messages of encouragement from none other than his practice partner, Woods, whose divorce was completed this week.
It has been a nightmarish nine months for Woods, who undoubtedly could use a friend while he tries to rebuild not only his name, but his game.
Woods could sure do worse than Atwal, who understands a thing or two about isolation, tough times and muddling through.
“I don’t take the needling most people would from Tiger,” Atwal said. “I give it back. You have to just be buds with him. You can’t treat him as anything special.”
With that, Atwal said he would forgo the usual text message and pick up the telephone for a chat with his occasional practice partner. Everyone, Atwal said, even the best golfer in the world, needs a pick-me-up every now and then.
Lucky guy that Woods. So much for how things look on paper.
(Scott Soshnick is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.)
To contact the writer of this column: Scott Soshnick in New York at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Greiff at jgreiff@bloomberg.net
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