The most significant sporting story for India last week was not the state of the Commonwealth Games but the victory of Indian professional golfer Arjun Atwal on the formidable United States Professional Golfers’ Association Tour (US PGA). Atwal, 37, is an incredible story of focus and triumph against the odds, inspiring us towards unwavering self-belief, patience and hard work.

Atwal has always showed great promise ever since he became the Indian Open champion at his home course, the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1999, his first international tour victory. He won on a regular basis thereafter and in 2003, earned the fame of becoming the first player to cross the $1 million mark on the Asian Tour. He became the first Indian to win a European Tour event thereafter and in 2004, became the first Indian to qualify to play full-time on the lucrative US PGA Tour, ahead of the more heralded Jeev Milkha Singh.

Why has it taken an Indian so long to break through on the US PGA Tour? It’s simply because no other player has made the decision to be based in the United States and dedicate himself to playing there, and in the process excluding tournaments in Europe and Asia. Singh could have chosen to pursue the US PGA Tour years ago, but chose instead to divide his time between Japan, Europe and the United States.

As Atwal has been battling poor form, physical injuries and investigation in a fatal car crash case over the past few years, he could have easily chosen to fall back on the relative easy pickings on the Asian Tour or even moved to Europe where he enjoyed exemptions for the past few years on the strength of his European Tour victories. He chose the harder path, in the United States, of playing either on the US PGA Tour or the second-level Nationwide Tour.

Last week, at the $5.1 million Wyndham Championship, Atwal became the first player since 1986 to enter through the Monday qualifying round. He then went on to win when he shot four strong rounds of 61, 67, 65 and 67 for a low total of 20 under par 260 on the par 70 course. On the final day, he stood up to intense competition from six players tied for the lead with a few holes to go. With three holes to play, he hit an awesome approach shot only six feet from the hole to a flag tucked dangerously near water and made the birdie putt to reclaim the lead and then made a stellar seven-foot putt on the final hole for the victory.

Atwal has always shown the ability to deliver the goods when in contention by winning regularly on the Asian and European tours as well as on the Nationwide Tour and with the Wyndham win, he again proved his belief that he belonged among the best players on the elite US PGA Tour. His share of the purse was $918,000 or around Rs 4.24 crore.

Atwal’s milestone victory is sure to not only boost the profile and popularity of golf in India, but will further inspire his fellow Indian professional golfers to shoot for glory in the United States, the ultimate battleground in golf. He will also excite thousands of young Indian boys and girls to believe they can beat the best players on the biggest tour in the world. One of the last frontiers in golf has finally been breached for India.