San Antonio: Arjun Atwal, now on a comeback trail, shot one of his best rounds in a long time with a three-under 69 to lie tied seventh at the end of the first round of the Valero Texas Open golf on Thursday.
Jeev Milkha Singh, also making a return after an eight-week lay-off, did not have too happy a start with a four-over 76 that put him in danger of missing the weekend action.
Atwal, who has had only two starts this season - missing one and finishing tied 43rd in Zurich - had five birdies against two bogeys. He had birdies on the first, fifth, seventh, 12th and 14th. The bogeys came on the fourth and 13th.
Jeev, who is playing in his first full season as a rookie on the US Tour, had a great start at the WGC Accenture Matchplay where he ended tied ninth, and has since made two cuts in four starts. He was tied 35th at the Honda Classic and tied 24th at Puerto Rico.
Jeev double bogeyed the first, birdied the second, bogeyed the fourth and seventh and then dropped back to back bogeys on the 11th and 12th before a birdie on the 14th. He ended at 76.
Matt Jones eagled the par-5 14th hole and finished with a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead.
Jones also had four birdies in a back-nine 30 on the Greg Norman-designed Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, the tournament's new site after 15 years at La Cantera.
Paul Stankowski opened with a 67, and J.B. Holmes, Matt Weibring, Charley Hoffman and Steve Lowery had 68s.
Ernie Els, a two-time winner this year, had a 72. He was three-under on the final five holes, almost landing a double eagle - he tapped in for an eagle on the 14 after a 293-yard second shot.
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