Shiv Kapur has targeted an Indian double at the Avantha Masters after capturing his debut Challenge Tour title at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge.
A fortnight ago Kapur became the second home player, after the 2011 champion Gaganjeet Bhullar, to win the Gujarat Kensville Challenge when he held off Scotland’s Andrew McArthur by two strokes to take the €32,000 winner’s cheque and, in the process, move to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Having sealed his maiden Challenge Tour victory in Ahmedabad Kapur’s focus switched immediately to the Avantha Masters, which will take place for the first time this year at Jaypee Greens GC, near New Delhi, his home and birthplace.
Kapur’s best performance in the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India, came in 2011, when he finished in a tie for ninth place behind his compatriot SSP Chowrasia.
Chowrasia’s triumph was the first, and so far only, home victory in the Avantha Masters; but having also recently won the Shubhkamna Champions – a tournament hosted by his friend and compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh – by three shots from Sweden’s Daniel Chopra, Kapur is understandably confident of mounting a bold bid to succeed South African Jbe’ Kruger as champion when the fifth edition of the €1.8million event unfolds from March 14-17.
He said: “I am playing very well. To win twice in two starts – first at the Shubhkamna Champions and then at the Kensville Challenge – felt great, especially after not winning for a long time. Now I would really love to follow in SSP’s footsteps and win a European Tour event at home. Adding the Avantha Masters to the Kensville Challenge and doing a European double in India would be absolutely great.
“I ended the 2012 season pretty well and then began 2013 on a winning note, so now I’m looking forward to playing a European Tour event at home. The Avantha Masters is without doubt the crown jewel amongst all golf tournaments in India. This time we will be moving to a new course at Jaypee Greens, so that should really add to the excitement.”
The par 72 course at Jaypee Greens GC takes over the staging of the Avantha Masters from DLF Golf and Country Club, which hosted the tournament for three years from 2010.
Designed by Greg Norman, Jaypee Greens GC features 14 water hazards and 88 bunkers and, at 7,347 yards, is India’s longest course.
