New Delhi, October 23: India’s Shiv Kapur returns to the venue of his famous victory eager for another successful outing at the US$400,000 Panasonic Open India which starts on Thursday.

Playing on his home course at the Delhi Golf Club, Kapur claimed his third Asian Tour title and second win in 2017 when he cruised to a three-shot triumph 12 months ago. The victory was exceptionally sweet for Kapur as it was his first Asian Tour win on home soil.

The 36-year-old Kapur, father of one, will be gunning to become the first player to successfully defend his title at the Panasonic Open India, which is celebrating its eighth successive edition on the region’s premier Tour.

He will spearhead the strong local challenge which includes promising talents Viraj Madappa, youngest Indian winner on the Asian Tour, and 17-year-old Kshitij Naveed Kaul, who is making his professional debut this week.

They will be vying to retain the trophy on home soil in the popular event which has been dominated by the Indian players since its inception in 2011. Wade Ormsby of Australia remains the only international player to win the Panasonic Open India in 2013.

Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat returns to the site of his breakthrough Asian Tour win this week, confident of putting up a strong showing to turn his lacklustre season around. The 50-year-old marked his best result this season in Pakistan when he came in tied-24th two weeks ago.

Also in the fray are Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand, who broke through in Pakistan a fortnight ago before going on to win on his domestic circuit last week, as well as his compatriots Prom Meesawat, Jazz Janewattananond and Panuphol Pittayarat, all double-winners on the Asian Tour.

The Panasonic Open India is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and is the second leg of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing, which is an aggregate points race that spans five events – in Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

(From left) Kshitij Naveed Kaul, Shiv Kapur and Viraj Madappa

Did you know?

• Shiv Kapur claimed his third Asian Tour title and second win of the 2017 season when he cruised to a three-shot victory last year. It was his first ever Asian Tour win on home soil.
• Kapur ended a 12-year barren spell when he won his second Asian Tour title in Chinese Taipei last April. He would go on to win in Thailand in December and become the only player to have won three times on the Asian Tour in the 2017 season.
• Kapur also topped the inaugural Panasonic Swing rankings with total points of 2922.90. His compatriot Rahil Gangjee came in second with 2805.00 while Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand finished third on 2380.50. The top-three finishers in the Panasonic Swing final ranking earned US$70,000, US$50,000 and US$30,000 respectively via a bonus pool reward scheme.
• Kapur came close to defending his title successfully at the Royal Cup in July before settling for joint-second. He secured another solid sixth place result in Chinese Taipei last month and is sitting in 28th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.
• The Delhi Golf Club is the home course for Kapur and Kshitij Naveed Kaul, who is making his professional debut this week.
• Viraj Madappa is playing in his first year as a professional. He came through the Qualifying School earlier in January and became the first rookie to win on the Asian Tour this season following his triumph in August.
• Madappa also holds the record of being the youngest Indian player, at the age of 20, to win on the Asian Tour.
• Both Kapur and Madappa have won their maiden Asian Tour wins in their rookie seasons in 2005 and 2018 respectively. Kapur was also named the Rookie of the Year in 2005.
• Madappa enjoyed a fourth-place finish in Chinese Taipei earlier this month. It was his first top-10 result on the Asian Tour apart from his win.
• Mardan secured his first Asian Tour win at the Delhi Golf Club in 2004. He is the first Singaporean to win on the region’s premier Tour.

Players’ quotes:

Shiv Kapur (Ind)

It was a pretty amazing win last year. I replayed the videos of my victory again and it got me some goosebumps and some fond memories came back. It was special to win on your home course, in front of your family and friends. It was a dream for me to win here.

I have seen so many of my friends win here and it’s always been one of my goals to win here. To be able to win last year was a dream come true. It was also a dream season for me, to have won three times last year.

I remember putting my two-month-old daughter in the Panasonic Open India trophy last year and that photo has been my profile picture on WhatsApp since. The season hasn’t been as good as I like it to be, to be honest.

You kind of need to keep your expectations in check, like what I have said at the end of last year. You come off a great season where you have won three times and it’s never easy to back that up with more wins. I think I didn’t plan my schedule well enough. I didn’t have much time to rest in between the two seasons. It was a bit of a burnt out then.

Overall, I feel like my game is picking up again. I am excited to finish my season well, starting from this week. I am in a decent position on the Merit rankings so a good push for a win will help me end the season strong.

It’s nice to see my face on all the branded boards out there. It’s a special feeling. Yes, there is pressure as a defending champion but I think it’s a positive and good pressure knowing that you have won on this course before. If I can put myself in position to win again come Sunday, I can definitely bank on my past memories to help me achieve the feat.

In the past, I have always had the mindset to play defensive or to play smart whenever I play on my home course at the Delhi Golf Club. But last year, I told myself to just play naturally like how it would be when I play with my friends and that kind of worked for me. I putted well last year and I think that was the key as well.

The fairways are the bets that I have ever seen. The rough is fantastic. It’s going to be a great test from tee to green.

Viraj Madappa (Ind)

It’s definitely nice to know that I have the potential to win on the Asian Tour. I wasn’t feeling confident when I turned professional at the beginning of the season. After winning my first title in August, I feel more confident to play against the top guys out there.

I am playing well now so I hope to finish the season off strong and look forward to this week. I felt like I spent a lot of time with Shiv Kapur this season. He’s been very friendly so I don’t think I am very intimidated by him anymore. I used to be! (laughs)

He has helped me out when we played a few practice rounds together. I think I’m quite comfortable playing on Tour now. I feel like my game’s good now and I might be the man to be this week!

Kshitij Naveed Kaul (Ind)

I am very excited to play my first event as a professional on my home course this week. It’s very nice and I feel good because I am playing well now. I have played a few times with Shiv Kapur and it’s nice.

The Delhi Golf Club is my home club so I hope I can take advantage of my course knowledge this week. I hope to do the same like what I have been doing before although I am playing in my first event as a professional this week.

I would like to thank Panasonic, PGTI and the Asian Tour for giving me this opportunity to play in my first event as a professional and on my home course this week. I am looking forward to the week and hopefully I can put up a good showing.

Mardan Mamat (Sgp)

The game is feeling good after making three straight cuts in Chinese Taipei and Pakistan. I’m starting to find some form which is good and I am feeling confident. I have a lot of good memories on this course. It’s always nice to come back here.

It’s good to see more players turning professional at a young age. I know there are two Indian golfers making their professional debut this week. A few weeks back, two young Singaporeans turned professional as well. It’s good for the game I feel.

It shows that the game is growing. Like what I have told the two Singaporeans who just turned professional, my advice to them is to be patient, work hard and don’t force the results. It’s the most important that you enjoy the game.

Ends.