By IANS
Abu Dhabi : Shiv Kapur, looking for a breakthrough on the European Tour, has mixed memories of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships. The 25-year-old Delhi golfer, now playing his second full year in Europe, was tied second after three rounds of the same tournament last year before falling down the ladder.
Kapur played the final round in the second lead group but shot a 75 and faded away to 20th as Paul Casey came from behind and emerged a winner. Kapur missed more than a few small putts and was birdie-less on the final day.
“I had a great second round (66) and was then well-placed after the third round (of 68), too, but things did not happen over the weekend,” recalled Kapur, who has one win on the Asian Tour. He has come close – he finished second in Indonesia last year – on the European Tour, but won.
“After winning the Volvo Masters (of Asia) in 2005, I put a lot of pressure on myself in 2006. But in 2007, I wanted to consolidate on the European Tour,” added Kapur. “Now I am looking to move one level up and see if I can win. That’s my goal for the present.”
Kapur was named into the Asian team for the Royal Trophy last fortnight, but the event being postponed on account of a death in Thailand’s Royal family. So, like his colleagues, Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, he opens his season in Abu Dhabi.
Kapur, winner of the 2002 Asian Games gold medal as an amateur, now has full playing rights on the Asian and European Tours. “While I love playing the Asian Tour, I want to play more on European Tour. That there are a lot of co-sanctioned events is helpful,” he says.
Kapur tees off Thursday with Henrik Nystrom and Thomas Aiken in the first round.