Indian golfing ace Shiv Kapur hopes to launch his Asian Tour career in a big way by making the grade at the Qualifying School Finals that begin at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Kapur has been strongly tipped for fame in the pro ranks after winning the Asian Games individual gold medal in Korea three years ago and also enjoying a good amateur career at Purdue University in the United States, where he was a two-time all-American.
After turning professional last August, he has since secured two victories and four runner-up outings on the Indian circuit. But the talented Kapur has his eyes set on much bigger goals, starting with the Asian Tour, where he will be amongst 199 players vying for 40 Tour cards in the Final Stage.
"My game is good right now. I played well back home last week and lost in a play-off. I've won twice and have been up there shooting some good numbers. I've never been to qualifying school before, so it will be a different experience. I guess I'll approach it as another tournament and try to shoot good rounds every day," said Kapur on Tuesday.
While he has the back-up of a country exemption for the new 2005 Asian Tour season, Kapur says the Qualifying School ticket will get him more starts, especially in the joint-sanctioned events.
"I want to get into the bigger events and my only chance to do so is to get a high finish here, probably a top two or three finish. That's my aim. It is important for me to do well," said Kapur.
Some of Thailand's emerging talents, such as Ronnachai Jamnong and Wisut Artjanawat, members of the victorious Putra Cup team over the past two years, will be amongst the aspirants in the gruelling qualifying test where they hope to join compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, last year's Asian Tour number one, on the region's fairways this year.
Other players looking to relaunch their careers include Filipinos Gerald Rosales and Felix Casas and Kao Bo-song and Sung Mao-chang, who were members of the Chinese Taipei side that won the Asian Games team gold medal in 2002.
Former Tour winners Stephen Lindskog of Sweden and Australian David Gleeson are also in the field at Palm Resort.
Rashid Ismail, last year's Malaysian number one, leads the local challenge where he will be joined by P. Gunasegaran, Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussein, Shaifubari Muda and M. Sasidaran.
American Ty Tryon, who has played on the US PGA Tour previously, and Myanmar's Zaw Moe have withdrawn from the Qualifying School.
The top-80 and ties after the second round on Thursday will qualify for the last two rounds. The top-40 finishers and ties after the final round on Saturday will then earn their Asian Tour cards.
