Gavin Cummiskey talks to Arjun Atwal, one of the best-supported layers at Portmarnock

Arjun Atwal admittedly is not a household name among Irish golf enthusiasts but he still had a large support all last week at Portmarnock. His own family and that of his caddy, Dubliner Stephen Byrne, walked with him through every stroke.

His wife, Sona, parents, Bindi and Rupi, and brother Govind travelled over to see him attempt to qualify for the British Open and decided to take in the Irish trip as well.

He missed out on Sandwich by four shots at the qualifiers in Littlestone and although he made the cut at Portmarnock a disappointing final-day 74 saw him finish the week on level par and way down the pecking order.

After under-par rounds on Thursday and Saturday, he threatened to make a run for a decent placing but a double bogey on the 12th yesterday ended any such aspirations.

But it was not from lack of faith. His father carries around beads, tightly gripped in his palm, when he is watching his son play.

Currently India's leading representative in world golf, the 30-year-old has been on the European Tour proper for three seasons now and has already won two tournaments: the Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February this year and the Singapore Masters title in 2002.

Byrne was not carrying Atwal's bag on the two occasions he won in Asia but he will be with him when they travel to the United States for the WSC American Express Championship in October.

The 25-year-old hails from Shankill, Co Dublin. He plays off four out of the Coldwinters club and previously carried Philip Walton's bag.

Atwal would prefer to be playing all his golf Stateside - he lives there and speaks with an American accent - but he has failed at the treacherous qualification route on four attempts.

"I'm in the second stages of the Tour school this year so hopefully I will play well enough in the American Express and get the money up for some invites.

"My main focus is the US Tour because I'm based there but I would love to keep coming back and playing events like here (Portmarnock)."

There will be a "welcome" sign for him at The Irish Open for at least another two years, as he is exempt from European qualification.

Next year the support may swell to uncountable figures.