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Kapur bids for Volvo double

Shiv Kapur's walk with destiny sees him courting the US$1.8 million Volvo China Open this week as he bids to become the first man to hold two of Asia's most prestigious titles at the same time.

The talented Indian tees up at the Beijing Honghua International Golf Club on Thursday, looking to add a second trophy to his name following his Volvo Masters of Asia triumph in Bangkok last December.

Kapur, 24, is one of Asia's hottest young properties and he took another step towards international fame when he qualified for his maiden British Open appearance in July at the qualifying round in Singapore last week.

But The Open can wait for the time being as he looks to settle an old score with China's Open championship. Playing on a sponsor's invite last November, he contended on the final day before faltering down the stretch

"It's good to be here," said Kapur, currently eighth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit. "Last year I played on a sponsor's invite and it was nice of Volvo to have me then. And pretty much from then on, the graph kind of went straight up for me and my performances have been pretty good."

Kapur's final day meltdown in Shenzhen saw him post a final round 76 as he finished tied 32nd. He learned quickly for that experience as several weeks later, he prevailed in style at the Volvo Masters of Asia, regarded the Tour Championship in the region, by holding off the finest players on the Asian Tour.

"I can't recall it to be honest and I don't want to recall it!" said Kapur when asked what he learned from his experience last November. "Six months down the road, my game has changed a lot and I think I've learned a lot.

"Patience is a very big part of it and that was my first burst onto the big scene, being in contention for the first time in a co-sanctioned event. I learned some of the mental things that you need to do and also how to pace yourself. A lot of times, you think you have to do more than you actually need to do," said Kapur.

His next goal would be to win a European Tour event. "I like my chances in Asia obviously but the way my game is, I like my chances in Europe as well. I'm in no hurry to win, I like to win soon but I'm just going to try and enjoy it. If I keep playing well, I'm sure it'll come around," he said.

Kapur must contend with cold and blustery conditions which greeted the stars at the Nick Faldo-designed Honghua today. Snow has even been forecasted to hit the Chinese capital later tonight. While Asians generally struggle in cold climate, Kapur's four years at Purdue University in the US will come to good stead.

"I don't mind it. I played four years of college golf in the US and it kind of snowed every spring and I know what it is like playing in the cold weather. You have to be mentally strong and tough in these conditions. I think it plays into my hands a little bit more. It becomes a test of patience out there and it'll be a good test for me," said Kapur.

England's Paul Casey is back to defend his Volvo China Open title while Henrik Stenson of Sweden enters the week as the highest ranked player in the field at world number 13. Last season's Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Charlie Wi of Korea, who both won co-sanctioned tournaments this season, are also in the fray in the Asian Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned event.

April 11, 2006