The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Shiv Kapur outscores Fred Couples

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 10, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Shiv Kapur outscores Fred Couples

Perth: Notwithstanding the lone bogey on the 14th hole, Shiv Kapur had his best opening round in recent past and the Indian outscored childhood hero Fred Couples on his way to an impressive four-under 68 that fetched him the tied 11th place in the Johnnie Walker Classic here today.

Things could have been even better for last year's Asian Tout Rookie of the Year at the par-72 Vines Resort and Country Club but for two three-putt pars on the 10th and 18th holes. ``It's a shame to three putt the last for par. Anytime you finish the round badly just leaves a bad tastes but I'll come out tomorrow and go low again,'' Shiv said later.

This was the youngster's best opening round in four tournaments as he endured two 75s and a 77 in three tournaments in the Middle East.

Best round

``It's my best round by eight shots. I didn't think like that all. I went out with two great players and started learning how it is done. Anytime you play with guys who are playing well and with that calibre, it's going to feed off to you. Automatically, it ups your game,'' said Kapur who was paired with Fred Couples and Craig Parry.

He had five birdies on the card — on third, fourth, eighth, ninth and 16th — but Shiv looked more thrilled to make a big par save on 15.

``I had a bad break there, a lot of mud on my ball on the fairway and it squirted into a dodgy lie in the bunker but I made a great save,'' he said.

Gaurav tied 67th

Among his compatriots, Gaurav Ghei had a level-par show for the tied 67th place, while veteran Jeev Milkha Singh was undone by a treble of double bogeys as he stuttered to six-over 78 to finish way down the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, local favourite Adam Scott launched his title defence in style, shooting a blistering eight-under-par 64 for the joint first round lead with American Kevin Stadler. — UNI

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