Arjun Atwal has secured entry in this year’s U.S. Senior Open from June 26-29
Arjuna Awardee Arjun Atwal, India’s trailblazing golf icon and the only Indian to win on the PGA TOUR, has once again showcased his knack for navigating high-stakes qualifiers. 3-time European Tour winner Atwal has earned a coveted spot in the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship, through the Final Qualifier that was held on June 12.
The Final Qualifying was held at 12 sites across the U.S. from May 19-June 12. The 52-year-old carded a 4-under 68 at The Bear’s Club in Florida, tying American Jason Gore as co-medalist to earn one of nine qualifying spots. This makes him the first Indian to compete in this prestigious senior Major, which is set to take place this month from June 26-29 at The Broadmoor’s East Course in Colorado.
This triumph aligns with Atwal’s storied history of excelling in qualifiers. In 2010, he became the first Indian to win a PGA TOUR event at the Wyndham Championship as a Monday qualifier, a feat unseen in 24 years. He later qualified for the 2019 3M Open and the 2020 Honda Classic, navigating a field with 13 PGA TOUR winners and over $212 million in combined earnings. Now 52, Atwal has carried this mastery into his senior career, earning him a place among the 156 players vying for the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy.
Atwal’s 2024 PGA TOUR Champions season was exemplary, making the cut in all nine events he played, with four Top-20 finishes and one Top 5. His best result came at the Senior Open Championship in Scotland last year, where he posted rounds of 75-68-67-76 to finish T-5 at 2-under 286. He secured his highest senior Major finish, tying Anirban Lahiri’s record for the best by an Indian in a Major. 4-time European Tour winner Jeev Milkha Singh, with Legends Tour playing rights, finished T-45, while 8-time Asian Tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, who was a Legends Tour rookie last year, missed the cut.
The first hole at the Broadmoor Resort (East Course), site of the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship
Atwal’s U.S. Senior Open berth sets him apart as India’s sole representative in Colorado. As he tees off on June 26, Indian golf fans will rally behind their trailblazer, whose journey from a 2010 Monday qualifier to a 2025 senior Major qualifier continues to inspire.