As the crowd gathered at The Els Club, ready to watch inaugural Dubai Open winner Arjun Atwal receive a golden camel on Sunday afternoon, a young boy wished his father good luck.
“Good luck?” asked Atwal, who finished on 16-under to secure the final event of this year’s Asian Tour by a single stroke. “Why do I need luck? I’m only collecting a trophy.”
The young boy’s innocence can be explained by the fact he has never seen his father win before. Atwal may be about to enter his second decade as a professional, but recent years have not been kind.
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A series of back and hip injuries meant the 41-year-old Florida resident arrived in Dubai with only three wins since 2004. His last victory came at the 2010 Wyndham Championship, when he became the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour.
“They have never seen me win before,” he said of his two children, who both followed him around the par-72 course on Sunday after electing to spend the weekend exploring the city and enjoying Ski Dubai.
“All my wins have been away or before they were born.”
Atwal certainly contributed to a final day to remember. The former Asian Tour No 1 started the day as one of four overnight leaders and received a text message from his close friend Tiger Woods, who suggested if he shot 68 “you should be good”.
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