Calcutta: Arjun Atwal was tied for lead at six-under with half the field having turned in their cards, in the first round of the Viking Classic, being played at the Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi, on Thursday.

Atwal shot seven birdies and one bogey.

The 37-year-old is tied in a five-way lead with Americans Bill Haas, Bill Lunde, Ken Duke and Brett Quigley.

In August this year, Atwal became the first Indian to win a PGA Tour tournament, the Wyndham Championship. The Viking Classic is his first meet after the tremendous PGA victory.

Atwal’s been having a pretty good run this year.

He ended tied second at the Tavistock Cup and then tied seventh in the HP Byron Nelson Championship. He also managed to make the cut for the US Open.

Atwal has three European Tour victories to his name.