JOIN USThe Indian ace, who had an agonising time on his Masters debut earlier in the month, showed he was fresh and ready to go on a day when play was delayed by two and a quarter hours.
Willis ran six straight birdies at the start but gave away two bogeys before picking another three birdies enroute to a seven-under 64.
Atwal had a fine day, missing just one fairway and just three greens in regulation and needed 26 putts round the course. He shared the second spot with Matt Bettencourt, Chad Campbell and Tim Herron.
“It was a lot of fun. The conditions were perfect. There wasn’t much wind when we started and it didn’t pick up very much at all. I think these are the best greens we’ve played all year, on any course. And obviously if you get in the fairway here you’re going to make birdie. I hit a lot of birdies and had a lot of chances,” said Atwal.
“You know, I don’t think it’s that important to be the leader out in the first round. It’s good to get off to a good start. As for the course suiting me. I’ve always loved the way it fits my eye.
“Every hole you’ve got to shape shots and it makes you really focus and I like that. You’ve got to pick the spots in the fairways, according to the pins.”
World number 3 Luke Donald led a bunch of players at four-under 67. Donald could move to No 1 with a win.
As many as 18 players were unable to finish before dark. Defending champion Jim Furyk and reigning U S Open champion Graeme McDowell, fifth in the world, were in a pack at 68. Ernie Els struggled to a 75.
Bhullar assured of cut
At least three Indians, including Gaganjeet Bhullar were assured of making the cut while the fate of three others hung in balance as the second day of the Indonesian Masters was cut short by threats of lightning in Jakarta on Friday.
Bhullar, the only Indian still sub-par after two rounds, had a second round of 72 to be tied 32nd with total of one-under 143 while Sujjan Singh added a 73 to his first round 72 to be one-over for 36 holes in tied 42nd place.
Digvijay Singh (73, 73) looked likely to make the weekend rounds at tied 62nd. The top 65 play the last two rounds.
Malaysia’s Shaaban Hussin (nine-under 135) took the surprise lead, without hitting a single par in his first nine holes. The Malaysian posted a five-under-par 67 where he mixed his card with six birdies against three bogeys in the first nine at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Amandeep Johl was even par through 14 holes and two-over for the tournament, but he was right on the expected cut line of two-over. Just one below the cut line at three-over 147 was Manav Jaini (74, 73) and Anirban Lahiri made a good recovery with a 71 after first round 76.
However, Himmat Rai (76, 72), Vikrant Chopra (73, 75), Firoz Ali (72, 80), Gaurav Ghei (12 over with two holes to play), Jyoti Randhawa (77, 80) were unlikely to make the cut.