Fitter, slimmer, stronger: Atwal hopes to make PGA Tour start count

Arjun Atwal is 47 now but he is ready to turn back the clock. Looking in the mirror, he can be pleased with himself, having lost almost 7 kilos during the three-month pandemic break.
There is new fuel in the tank as he tees off in motor city Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Thursday afternoon with Michael Thompson and Matt Jones. This is only his fourth start on the US PGA Tour this year.
"I don't remember how long ago I have felt like this.It's been a gradual weight loss and I've added swing speed too. I'm back to 185 pounds (84 kilos) which was the same number when I got onto the Tour in 2004," said Atwal, in an interview shared by the PGA Tour.
Getting rid of the aches and pains of an ageing body was on top of the agenda during the hiatus as he found practising during the lockdown ‘a weird experience.'
"There was no real purpose to practice with the shutdown," said Atwal, who broke the barriers for Indians on American shores with the Wyndham title in 2010.
"When I got the news that I got in through a sponsor's exemption, I started getting excited to practice again. I started practising with a purpose," said Atwal.
Shaking off a slight rib injury, he is looking forward to take advantage of this opportunity he received as a past winner on the tour. "To play a tournament pain free would be great. Look forward to playing without back pain."
A fresh diet and abstinence from alcohol, he hopes, will increase his playing days.
With a little help from his wife Sona, he reduced his carb intake, loaded up on fruit and vegetables and kept his hands off alcohol since the beginning of the year. Yoga and a new fitness regimen have also boosted his confidence and drive.
"This year I made a commitment to change my diet and get fitter. I've not had alcohol at all and I wanted to see how fit I could get. I wanted to get rid of the aches and pains which I've had for a number of years. I cleaned up my food … eating less carbs, lighter calories and not consuming 3,000 calories daily like before. I feel good. The legs feel stronger and I'm hoping that when I get to Sunday, it'll show up when you're carrying less weight."
As long as mind and body is willing, Atwal is ready to go all the way and even eyeing a successful stint on the Champions Tour when he clocks a half century. "By the time I'm 50, I'll also be ready to play on Champions. I want to win on that tour as well. I still have the desire to win as long as my body can perform. If those things are there, then I will play. As of right now, I'm feeling great."