Ahmedabad: Shiv Kapur is hoping to take advantage of valuable tips on the Kensville Golf and Country Club given to him by his good friend and senior colleague, Jeev Milkha Singh, whose first-ever signature course will host the Gujarat Kensville Challenge this month.
Kapur confirmed his participation in the season-opening Gujarat Kensville Challenge as top-drawer golf kick-starts in India with the Euro 200,000 European Challenge Tour event in the bustling Western metropolis.
"When we were traveling together in Europe, Jeev often used to talk about this course he was working on in Ahmedabad.
And all that talk has given me a good idea of the layout and the challenge it presents.
"He has always been excited about the course and I am looking forward to using those tips from Jeev at this new championship course," said Kapur.
Sameer Sinha, MD Savvy Group, the promoters of Kensville, welcomed the confirmation of Kapur?s participation.
"The addition of Shiv Kapur to the field is terrific.
Shiv is a tremendous talent and has achieved a lot despite his young age. I am glad that he will be able to make it this year," said Sinha, himself a keen golfer.
Kapur who turns 29 next month, said, "Time sure flies. It seems like yesterday that I made my pro debut in 2004 and suddenly seven years have flown by. I have had my highs and lows, but there is a lot I want to do in my career.
"I am looking at this season, starting with the Gujarat Kensville Challenge as the start of a new phase in my career."
Kapur, winner of the Asian Games gold medal back in 2002, turned professional in late 2004.
On the course, Kapur added, "I have heard a lot of complimentary things about the course from those who have played it and from Jeev. I believe it is very challenging and I am looking forward to it. I will be getting there on Monday and will get a couple of practice rounds before the Pro-Am."
The 2011 staging of the Euros 200,000 event was the first-ever European Challenge Tour event to be held in India, and was won by India?s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who beat off a strong challenge to take the Euros 32,000 first prize.
Apart from Bhullar, who is set to return to defend his title, another big challenger will be the 22-year-old Peter Uihlein, referred to as the next Tiger Woods.
Uihlein is making his pro debut at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge.
Other leading Indians in the field will be Himmat Rai, winner of the 2011 ISPS Handa Singapore Classic; Chiragh Kumar, winner of the 2011 PGTI Order of Merit, Manav Jaini, runner-up at the Panasonic Open in 2011 and Gaurav Ghei, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.
The event is co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour and the Indian domestic Tour, the Professional Golf Tour of India.
A field of 114 players will tee up for the event ? 60 from the European Challenge Tour, 48 from the PGTI and six Sponsor Invites, some of whom were selected through an unique qualifying round held at the Noida Golf Course last week.
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