Confident Shiv Kapur eyes Irish high

MUMBAI: With a US Open berth already in his kitty, a confident Shiv Kapur is targeting a good finish at the Irish Open that gets underway at the Royal County Down from Thursday. An inform Kapur will be leading the Indian charge in Northern Ireland besides the nation's highest-ranked golfer Anirban Lahiri and fourtime European Tour winner Jeev Milkha Singh.
On Monday, Kapur carded a 10-under 134 in the 36hole International Sectional Qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey to make the grade for the season's second Major two years in a row.Interestingly, the 33year-old missed the cut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on both occasions before booking his US Open ticket through the Monday qualifiers.
"I guess I have this ability to bounce back when I'm down. It's all about peaking at the right time and giving your 200% on that particular day. Somebody was telling me that missing the cut at Wentworth is good for you as you end up qualifying for the US Open two days later (laughs). I guess there are too many factors but def initely you also need that little bit of extra luck," Kapur told TOI after a practice round at the Royal County Down on Wednesday.
Kapur, who is paired with Belgian Thomas Pieters and amateur Bradley Neil of Scotland, said the course conditions were to his liking and he hopes for a decent performance in the Euro 2.5 million event.
"Royal County is a beautiful course. Greens and fairways are in good shape. I have always loved playing on a links course as one needs more imagination and creativity to excel in such conditions. I like it more as you don't get a chance to play links in Asia.I want to extend the momentum I picked at Walton Heath. My putting is a notch-up and even my driving and if I keep playing in the same vein, I'm sure of a super weekend," said the 2002 Arjuna awardee.
The 33-year-old made a minor change to his set-up, which worked in his favour during the US Open qualifiers, with inputs from his caddie and manager Neeraj Sareen -who has carried the former's bag in more than 100 events.
"I was driving and putting while being too close to the ball. I have known Neeraj since long and we share a great comfort level. He caddied me during the British Open in 2013 too. Neeraj told me to maintain greater distance when I am lining a putt or driving, to let me swing more freely and it worked. These are small things that make the difference, which make you realise why golf is such a technical sport and what makes stars like Rory McIlroy perform consistently week after week," the two-time Challenge Tour winner explained.
IRISH OPEN FAST FACTS
Prize Money: Euro 2.5 million
Venue: Royal County Down, Northern Ireland
Field: Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Rickie Fowler.
Indians in fray: Anirban Lahiri, Shiv Kapur & Jeev Milkha Singh.
The first ever Irish Open was held in 1927 when Scotsman George Duncan lifted the trophy at Portmarnock.
Ireland's Christy O'Connor Senior has won four Irish Opens, the most by any player ­ three at Woodbrook in County Wicklow in 1964, 1967 and 1972 and once at Royal Dublin in 1966.
Four players have won a hat-trick of Irish Opens -Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros (1983, 1985, 1986), German Bernhard Langer (1984, 1987, 1994), England's Nick Faldo (1991, 1992, 1993) and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie (1996, 1997, 2001).
The course record at Royal County Down is 66 set by Irishman Jimmy Bruen in the opening round of 1939's Irish Open.