Dubai Open: Indian golfers Kapur, Atwal share lead

Indian golfers Shiv Kapur and Arjun Atwal staged a fine comeback on the back nine to take a share of the lead into the final round of the inaugural Dubai Open in Dubai on Saturday.

Kapur, starting bogey-bogey, fired a five-under back nine, while Atwal who bogeyed the second and third, fought back with five birdies over the next 15 holes to get to 10-under and be part of a four-way lead.

South Africa's Jbe Kruger (64) and Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun (68) were also at 10-under, as no less than 10 players were within one shot of each other. Another 11 players, including Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), were within two shots. They were tied fifth.

It was Bhullar's third straight 69, while Jeev Milkha Singh (70) was tied 40th at two-under and Daniel Chopra (69) was tied 36th at three-under.

The 21 players, all within three shots of the lead, include Major winner Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland who fired a stunning 64 to end the day one shot back of the leading quartet.

Co-overnight leader Kapur, a Dubai resident, overcame two early bogeys with an inward 31 and a 69 and stayed in the joint lead on 10-under-par 206 with Atwal, who mixed six birdies against two bogeys for a 68.

"Yeah, it was a nightmare of a start. I didn't really hit any poor shots and then actually holed about a 15-footer for par on the fourth hole to sort of keep the round going," said the 32-year-old Kapur.

"But standing on the 10th tee, I just turned to my caddie and said 'I need a back nine like the front nine I did at Muirfield. Let's go out and play with that sort of attitude'.

"I'm happy with the way I fought back. There was a time where I could completely have thrown myself out of the tournament, so I'm tied for the lead, not too bad."

Atwal, Asia's number one in 2003, has not contended since becoming the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour in 2010 and reckons the hottest putter tomorrow will walk away with the crown.

"It's been a while," said the seven-time Asian Tour winner. "Just make a lot of putts. Make a lot of birdies. It's going to be fun tomorrow I think."

Atwal said, "It's been a while (going into final round in lead).  So, you know, we'll see.  We'll see how it goes."