Father-to-be Shiv Kapur eyes double delight
Shiv Kapur, known to carry a steady head on his shoulders, faced a dilemma. It was whether to skip the $300,000 Take Solutions Masters, the Asian Tour event which begins at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) from Thursday, or be with his wife --- the couple is expecting its first child in the next few days.
“I always enter a tournament with the intention of winning. There wouldn’t be greater joy if I finish winner and then welcome our child,” said the 2002 Asian Games gold medallist.
Shiv, having undergone liver surgery last year, made a hurried comeback within a couple of months. “I should have taken some more time to recover but I couldn’t stay away from the game,” he said.
He has had a good season, winning the Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei, his second title on the Asian Tour which came after more than 11 years. This was followed by a runner-up finish at the Thailand Open. He missed cut at the British Open by a shot last month. “The course here is playing well and I have been in good nick. Hopefully, I should be there at the top,” said Shiv.
However, he needs to gets past 149 other contestants, especially countryman SSP Chawrasia, ranked second on the Asian Tour’s order of merit. The 39-year-old from Kolkata had a string of missed cuts before coming here, but has a chance to top the order of merit should he finish at least joint second.
“Although I have won many events, I have never won the order of merit. So, I am aiming for victory,” said the Indian Open champion, who has six Asian Tour titles to his credit.
I always enter a tournament with the intention of winning. There wouldn’t be greater joy if I finish winner and then welcome our child.
Other notable players in the fray include Thailand’s Prachara Khongwatmai and Malaysian Gavin Green, ranked third and fourth on the order of merit.
Other Indian stars include multiple Asian Tour winners Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Local hero S Chikkarangappa, who won the first two events when Take Solutions was staged as an Asian Development Tour event, is keen to win his maiden Asian Tour title.
The KGA, which hosted the Indian Open in 2012, is primed for the extravaganza. The opening hole has been converted to a par-3 from par-4, making it a par-71 course with a yardage of 7060 yards. Keeping the ball in play would be the mantra as the course is unforgiving.