Kapur targets home success at Hero Honda Indian Open

Three top-10 finishes in last four outings have made in-form Shiv Kapur the man to watch out at the US$300,000 Hero Honda Indian Open next week.

The talented Kapur is hoping to find a career breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour and it would be especially pleasing if he can achieve the feat at Delhi Golf Club, his home course, from October 27-30.

“I have been in contention and came close three times in the last month. I feel good about my game and I am playing well,” said Kapur who finished fourth in the Bangkok Airways Open last week.

Kapur has strung together a nice run with strong finishes including a tied third at the Crowne Plaza Open, Beijing and seventh place finish in the Taiwan Open.

Presently ranked 47th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Kapur is now the third highest Indian after Jyoti Randhawa (third) and Jeev Milkha Singh (15th) on the ranking with a little over US$60,000 in earnings in his rookie year.

“The result at the Bangkok Airways Open should settle my (Tour) card for 2006. I should also qualify for the Volvo Masters of Asia (an event for the top-60 players in Asia). Also I can think ahead of the Hero Honda Indian Open and look for a win,” said Kapur.

He is expecting a tough week as the field will be headlined by US PGA Tour regular Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa, both former Asian number ones and past champions of the Indian Open.

“It is going to a very strong field with Arjun fresh from his exploits on the PGA Tour. Then there is Jyoti and other players like Thaworn Wiratchant, Terry Pilkadaris and defending champion Mardan Mamat.

"Indians have always done well in Asian Tour events in India, so this could be another one,” he said.

Kapur's best score at the venerable Delhi Golf Club is a 64 and he is hoping to find his form in his home Open. "Delhi Golf Club is my home course, so I am going to try there (for the big breakthrough)," he said.

On his season so far, Kapur is quite happy. “During the first half I was finding my feet. Then during the summer break, I saw my coach Kel Llewellyn in Australia and that has helped my game. I found something and I have been playing well since the Singapore Open. I am now feeling confident and sewing up the card for 2006 is a great feeling.”

Kapur, who has played the Indian Open as an amateur, regards the national Open as a big event. “A national Open is always big for any player. Winning it and doing well in it is always a great achievement,” he feels.

The card for 2006 may have been settled but Kapur, the 2002 Asian Games gold medalist, is not slowing down. “I want to have a shot at the joint-sanctioned events coming up later in the year and also the Volvo Masters of Asia. This is my first year and I want to make it memorable,” said Kapur.

October 20, 2005

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