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Couples predicts great future for Kapur

Former US Masters winner Fred Couples has predicted a rosy future for Shiv Kapur after playing two rounds with the talented Indian at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

The 46-year-old Couples likened Kapur to British Open champion Justin Leonard and said on Friday the Indian could well force his way onto the US PGA Tour in the near future. At the halfway stage of the Johnnie Walker Classic, Couples is six-under-par 138 for the US$2.3 million event, with Kapur a stroke back. KJ Choi of Korea presently leads on 13-under-par 131.

"Shiv knows how to play golf," said Couples. "He's 23 and he's got his future ahead of him. I like his temperament. He hits the ball really solid. He's not long, he's not short. He's like Justin Leonard. He is really, really good. I like the way he plays. I think he will do really well."

The US Masters winner said Kapur's destiny is in his own hands. "If he wanted to, yeah, for sure," said Couples when asked if Kapur could eventually end up in the US.

"He may be needs to work on some trick shots. He has to develop some shots where he has to shape them. He's never really in trouble and I don't know how you can work on those shots. If you watch him swing, fundamentally, he hasn't got a problem hitting the ball. His short game is great around the green and he's a good bunker player," said Couples, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Manila in 1995.

Kapur was disappointed to card a 71 to add to his opening 68 after stumbling to the finish line at The Vines Resort and Country Club. At one stage, he worked his way up to eight under but ran up a double bogey six on the fifth and bogeyed the ninth, his last hole, after missing a putt from four feet.

"When we walked off the 18th (his first nine), Freddy came up and said that's some good striking. Coming from the Masters champion, that is nice. I got robbed a few times on the greens. That double bogey on the fifth did me in. I didn't hit a bad shot and ended up with a double," said Kapur.

The Indian has shot into stardom in Asia since a meteoric rookie professional season on the Asian Tour last year. He won the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia and claimed the rookie of the year honour. Presently eight shots off the pace here, Kapur is confident of moving up the leaderboard at the weekend of the event tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian Tours.

"I took a lot of positives (from the first two rounds). Freddy and Craig Parry (the third player in the group) were very complimentary and that makes you feel good. Just to go out there toe to toe and fight it out with those guys and pretty much play as well is encouraging," said Kapur.

February 10, 2006