Atwal ahead of the rest … including Vijay Singh

The 32-year-old is the first Indian to play on the PGA Tour and he added another first by holding outright lead for the first time here. The two-time winner on the European Tour international schedule overcame winds which went up to 25mph at one stage.

While Henry posted a second straight 67 to be 10-under, Chris Dimarco, who shared overnight lead with Atwal, returned eight-under par 71 to be tied third with Tim Clark (69).

Atwal began sedately with five pars before finding two birdies on sixth and seventh, but he dropped a shot on ninth and turned in one-under.

It was on the back nine, when the winds went up that he sparkled and birdies started falling.

He birdied 10th, 14th and 15th before bogeying the 16th and then picked his last birdie on the 18th. Five of his six birdies were from inside eight feet. On the par-3 14th, he chipped in from more than 50 feet from a greenside bunker for a great birdie.

Defending champion Vijay Singh, followed an opening 67 with a 71 and was in a three-way tie for sixth place at six-under. He was five strokes behind Atwal.

Atwal, who had eight birdies in his first round, got another six in second. All of his birdies in second round came over the final 13 holes of competition, including four on the back nine.