Arjun Atwal, fighting to save his PGA Tour card for next year, overcame a quadruple bogey disappointment and hung on grittily over the last five holes to enter the weekend rounds of the Valero Texas Open.
Atwal, who is lying 143rd in the Money List and needs to get inside the top-125 with tournaments running out, shot an even par 70 to be one-over 141 for 36 holes and just managed to squeeze inside the cut line here. After the quadruple bogey disaster, Atwal got back his putting touch and hit two birdies in the second round of the event and is now lying tied 66th.
Eric Axley (63) and D A Points (66) shared the lead at nine-under 131. Axley had a bogey-free 7-under 63. Paul Goydos (63) was third at eight-under 132.
Both Axley and Points are seeking their first PGA Tour victory. Starting on the first, Atwal opened with a birdie to which he added another on seventh and turned in two-under.
But disaster struck on the par-4 12th, where he ended with a quadruple bogey, that threatened to cut short his tournament once before the weekend.
But Atwal, having one of his best putting days of the season, pulled himself back with birdies on 14th and 16th to live to fight another day.
He needed just 25 putts, a far cry from his 33 for first day, when he shot 71. A few good finishes including a top-10 or two could ensure a card for Atwal.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer (65) was two strokes back at seven-under along with Charley Hoffman (67), Frank Lickliter II (66), Dean Wilson (67) and David McKenzie (68). Alex Cejka (73) and Justin Rose (71) struggled and slipped down.
