The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Kapur for China Open

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 13, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Kapur for China Open

BEIJING : Asian Tour No. 1 Andrew Buckle and India's rising star Shiv Kapur will be teeing off in the $1.8 million China Open this week with local hero and 2003 winner Zhang Lianwei among the other favourites.

England's Paul Casey returns to defend his title, but will face stiff competition from Henrik Stenson of Sweden and a resurgent Jean Van de Velde of France.

Casey won in stirring fashion in November, when the tournament was held in southern China's Shenzhen, matching the course record with a final-round 65 to beat countryman Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

A great field

``It is very nice to be back. It is obviously a different venue and very soon after my victory in Shenzhen, but it is wonderful to have the opportunity to defend and we have a great field, a good golf course and tough conditions,'' said Casey, ranked tenth on the European Tour.

Cold, blustery conditions are forecast for Wednesday's opening round at the 7,203-yard (6,584-meters), par 72 Beijing Honghua International Golf Club.

Casey, who has won twice on tour in China, said the country's courses seemed to suit his game.

``I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, I'd like to figure it out and transfer it onto any course around the world,'' said Casey, who tees off alongside England's Nick Dougherty, No. 8 on the European Tour, and Australia's Marcus Both.

Stenson is fifth on the European Tour Order of Merit, but missed the cut in his debut appearance at the U.S. Masters last week and will be looking for a confidence-boost.

``I haven't felt like I've been playing great over the last six or seven weeks,'' said the Dubai-based Stenson, who said he's learning how to handle the stress of being a major contender.

``It definitely adds pressure,'' said Stenson, who at No. 13 in the world is the tournament's highest-ranked player and is grouped with Asian Tour No. 2. Charlie Wi of South Korea and last year's third place finisher, Barry Lane of England. — AP

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