Thaindian News

Ahmedabad, Jan 25 (IANS) Home favourite Shiv Kapur expects a tough test on his Challenge Tour debut at this week’s Gujarat Kensville Challenge golf tourney.

Kapur, who won in his Rookie Year in Asia and then played six years on the European Tour, believes only his best will be good enough to keep the title in Indian hands, following the triumph of Gaganjeet Bhullar 12 months ago.

Some of the other Indians in the fray could be Rahil Gangjee, who recently finished second on the Asian Tour Qualifying School, Chiragh Kumar, winner of the PGTI’s Order of merit in 2011 and Manav Jaini, second at Panasonic Open (India) last year.

Kapur, who narrowly missed keeping his European Tour card feels that even on the developmental Challenge Tour is a tough test. “It is not going to be easy,” he said after playing a practice round at Kensville Golf and Country Club, on the outskirts of here.

“It is a good field and it is good for Indians to have such events in India, because it gives our players a great chance to test themselves against international players. The only way to improve your game is by playing with players who are better and more experienced than you.”

Daniel Vancsik, with two European Tour titles and three Challenge Tour wins, is the most decorated player present in the line-up but the likes of John Parry and Oscar Henningson, both winners on The European Tour, will enter the new season harbouring hopes of a return to the big stage via the Challenge Tour Rankings.

Meanwhile, one player with similar ambitions but with a lot less experience is Uihlein, the 22-year-old who has caused quite a stir on both sides of the Atlantic as an amateur, impressing in the first round of the 2011 Masters Tournament before making the cut at The Open Championship later in the year.