Atwal, whose only other start of the year ended with a missed cut at Quicken Loans tournament, had two birdies and three bogeys in the first round at Sedgefield Tournament today evening.
Daniel Chopra had an even worse six-over 76 first round.
Meanwhile, Camillo Villegas of Colombia, who is going through a slump and took a golf-free holiday, benefitted from it with a round of seven-under 63 on the first day. Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back in the final event before the FedExCup playoffs.