Heart in Varna, Shiv Kapur has mind set on Rio

VARNA (Bulgaria): Spectacular views, virgin beaches and twinkled eyes are what you find when you hit this seaside capital of Bulgaria. It came as no surprise when India's leading golfer Shiv Kapur chose Varna to host the Tour of Champions invitational tournament. He's the only Indian to do so on foreign soil.
Kapur, who made headlines earlier this year for earning record back-to-back berths in the US Open, has of late had a topsy turvy season but he wants to make up for it by clinching an opportunity to represent India in the 2016 Rio Olympics, when golf makes its return in the quadrennial tournament after more than 110 years.
"This year has been pretty erratic, up and down. There have been flashes of brilliance but too much inconsistency. So the goal is to improve as a golfer by the year-end. I am very patriotic, my country comes first. When you win for yourself or finish well it's Shiv who is given the credit. But when I won the gold medal at 2002 Busan Asian Games, it is India that won gold. When I returned with the medal every single person at the Delhi airport stood up and applauded me ­ from taxi to autorickshaw drivers. They felt they were part of that gold medal; that's what really drives you. Every single person remembers you for doing something for India," Kapur, who recorded the best finish by an Indian (tied 23rd) at the 2014 US Open, told TOI on Thursday .
"That's why Olympics is high up on my list. I know I've work to do to qualify for Rio. It's not my last Olympics though, I think I have one more Olympics left in me after that. The goal is to compete in a couple of Olympics. But I don't want to put too much emphasis on rankings as playing better golf is my priority and if I do that my rankings are bound to improve," explained the World No. 452. Kapur needs to get ahead of compatriots SSP Chawrasia (Ranked 201), Rashid Khan (354) and three-time Indian Open champion Jyoti Randhawa (413) to stake a claim for Rio, which is not impossible if he posts five top-10s or a win on the European Tour by the end of season. Kapur has won twice on the European Challenge Tour.
"I have always known that winning tournaments improves your rankings. So the goal between now and July next year is to put myself into contention as much as possible. One good week can change your life. I have been working with South African coach Jamie Gough. He has done wonders with my swing and has given me that confidence that I can compete against the best on my day .I have the self-belief that I will have that one good week soon and when it comes I won't have to worry about the rankings," said the Arjuna awardee, who has just one top-20 finish from 22 starts this calendar including 10 missed cuts.
By hosting a tournament in his name Kapur has followed in the footsteps of the legendary Arnold Palmer and former World No. 1 Tiger Woods. Kapur staged the first-of-its-kind Golf Premier League in 2013 on the lines of India's Twenty20 extravaganza Indian Premier League. And the Tour of Champions might be the next step to establish himself as a golf entrepreneur.
"I love golf but it's not the one thing that defines me. I have a lot of golf-related business interests and I want to expand on that. It doesn't take away from your career at all. There have been guys like Tiger (Woods) who have balanced the two things well. Sometimes distraction is a good thing.
"When I saw videos of Volvo Matchplay being held at Thracian Cliffs Beach Resort here in Varna I was motivated to make a quick visit and tap the business potential of it. The Cape Kaliakara Golf Coast has three picturesque courses ­ Thracian Cliffs, Lighthouse Golf Resort and Black Sea Rama Clubs ­ that lends a unique experience to even non-golfers. I was motivated by the hospitality and the warmth Bulgarians have and the way they welcome you. In the future I plan to make this event even bigger and bring in more pros from India to experience the natural beauty of the Black Sea coast," the 33-year-old added.
Tour of Champions results (Stableford of full handicap):
Div ­ A: (Handicap 0-12): 74Zdenik Bouchek Jr (36, 38); 69 ­ Svetoslav Stanislavov (37, 32); 69 ­ Perry Einfeldt (37, 32) lost on countback.Div ­ B: (Handicap 13-24): 67 Alan Murrey (38, 29); 62 ­ Dominique Schwoebel (38,24); 61 ­ Mirela Blasius (29, 32).Div ­ C: (Handicap 25-36): 84 ­ Samuel ALexander Brown (42, 42); 78 Christopher Watson (44, 34); 71 ­ Vitaly Zhdanov (36, 35).