India's Kapur qualifies for Open Championship

India's Kapur qualifies for Open Championship

India's Shiv Kapur battled miserable cold and wet conditions in Dunbar on Tuesday to qualify for the British Open later this month at Muirfield.

Shiv Kapur of India plays a shot during the Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi on April 7, 2013. Kapur battled miserable cold and wet conditions in Dunbar on Tuesday to qualify for the British Open later this month at Muirfield.

Kapur, 31 is into only his second Open Championship appearance after finishing the joint second leading qualifier at the Dunbar course to the east of Edinburgh.

It was one of four courses hosting qualifying and with the New Delhi-born Kapur among 288 players seeking to grab the three spots on offer at each course.

Kapur, who last competed in the 2006 Open won by Tiger Woods at Hoylake, got off to a brilliant start when he eagled the second hole in the morning 18 holes.

He ended up posting a one under par 69 and after a short lunch break Kapur came back out to set a new course record of a six under par 64.

However the record lasted just over an hour before Australia's John Wade shot a 63 and to join Kapur in qualifying for golf's oldest Major.

Kapur capped his second round with five birdies over his closing 10 holes.

"It's a great feeling to get through," said Kapur.

"I could have got into the International Final Qualifier at Sunningdale but I wanted to try to qualify on a links course because I think that's the proper way to do it.

"It was the first time I had played a links course since this time last year so it was all a bit strange to start with but I soon got the hang of things again. I played beautifully this afternoon. In fact I felt I left a lot of shots out there but I suppose that's what everybody says."

And helping steer Kapur into the Major is his work with Italian Golf Federation coach, Alberto Binaghi, the same coach who works with Italian sensation, Matteo Manassero and winner of the recent European Tour flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

"I have been working with Alberto Binaghi for the last few months," he added.

"We had a three hour session in Milan earlier this week. We worked mainly on my short game and hitting shots in the wind and I think that helped a lot."

"It will be great to play at Muirfield. I played at The Open at Hoylake in 2006 but missed the cut by a shot. Let's hope I can do a bit better this time."

The 142nd British Open will commence on July 18 at the Muirfield course.

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