Arjun Atwal tied 25th in Barbasol Championships in US

Opelika (US): Arjun Atwal fought back from being two-over after four holes to finish with a card of two-under 69 at tied 25th place after the opening round of the Barbasol Championships here.

Atwal had four birdies between 13th and 17th including three in a row from 15th to 17th at the RTJ Grand National course. Daniel Chopra shot one-under 70, which included an eagle on par-5 fifth besides one other birdie and two bogeys and he was tied 47th.

Even as the Open Championships is being played in Scotland, where Arnold Palmer was being feted, his grandson, Sam Saunders, opened with a career-low and bogey-free, 7-under 64 and took the lead.

Saunders' 64 marked his third bogey-free score on the PGA Tour in his 24th start of the 2014-15 PGA TOUR Season, having earned his way out via the Web.Com Tour.

Saunders nearly claimed his first Tour title earlier this season at the Puerto Rico Open. With a final-round, four-under 68, he played his four-way sudden death with Alex Cejka emerging winner.

Lying one shot behind Saunders was Jason Gore who birdied four of his last five holes (Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 9) on way to a six-under 64. Five players including Martin Flores, Will Wilcox, Carlos Ortiz, Carlos Sainz Jr and amateur Maverick McNealy are tied for third at 66 each.