Kapur targets double at Avantha Masters

His season off to a flying start with a debut European Challenge Tour title, Shiv Kapur is now targetting the ‘crown jewel among all golf tournaments in India’ -- the tri-sanctioned Avantha Masters from March 14 to 17. 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 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. Kapur’s best performance in the Avantha Masters  tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India came in 2011, when he finished tied ninth behind compatriot SSP Chowrasia.Chowrasia’s triumph was the first, and so far only, home victory in the Avantha Masters. ‘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,’ Kapur said. ‘Now I would 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 European double in India would be absolutely great,’ he added. The 31-year-old Indian, who has won once on the Asian Tour during his rookie year in 2005, is excited to get his solid early season form off to a flying start.