Fuente: © Asian Tour
http://www.asiantour.com/

GOLF: ASIAN TOUR: KAPUR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR

/noticias.info/ Bangkok, December 14: India’s Shiv Kapur made a stuttering start to his first ever defence of a title in the US$650,000 Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club on Thursday.

Kapur conquered the course with some exquisite shotmaking on his way to victory last year but could not repeat the feat in an up and down opening round.

He had three bogeys in the opening five holes before recovering well on the back nine to finish with a level par 72, five strokes adrift of leader Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand.

“Overall it was not a good day. I got off to a bad start (with three bogeys in the opening five holes). I tried to stick in there and in the end managed to shoot even par (thanks to two birdies in the last five holes). That keeps me in there with a chance,” said Kapur, who is currently ranked eighth on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit.

Kapur laid the blame for his disappointing start on his chipping and putting but felt there was nothing much wrong with his game.

“My short game was not really up to the mark today. I could not get it up and down. My swing felt good all the way through so that is positive. A bit of work on my chipping this afternoon and I should be okay,” he said.

“The wind was strong today and the greens are firming up which makes it tough to get close to the pins, especially when they are at the front of the green.”

Despite his relatively poor start, Kapur was full of praise for the Thai Country Club course which the players admitted was set up tougher than last year.

“For a first day the pins were tough,” said Kapur. “But that is how it should be for a Tour Championship. “Anytime you miss the greens you have your work cut out to make par which is the mark of a good golf course.” notas_de_prensa_archivo