Paarl (South Africa), Dec 20 (IANS) It was a case of so near and yet so far for Shiv Kapur who faltered in the first play-off hole against Scotsman Richie Ramsay in the South African Open to end second Sunday.
Kapur, who played some amazing golf, dropped just one bogey on the final day and that proved to be the difference between first and second place.

Ramsay, starting the day in ninth, shot a stunning bogey-free seven-under 65, that made him the clubhouse leader at 13-under, as he waited for the others to come. Kapur, who opened the day at eight-under in sixth place held at least a share of the lead since the turn on the final day. He finished with a 67, with six birdies and one bogey, but failed to hole any of the birdie chances on the last five holes.

“That’s the way it goes. It is disappointing to come so close and then not be able to close the deal. I have been second or third a few times in last two or three years and I thought I had a great chance, but the 11th and the play-off made the difference,” said Kapur minutes after the loss.

Looking at the finish positively, he added: “Still a eighth last week and second now is alright at the end of the year, which is also the start of 2010 season in Europe. That’s not bad after the struggle for playing right last season.”

In the play-off, Kapur teeing off first went to the left in the hard, sandy area with a shrub adjacent, while Ramsay was just off the fairway in the rough, but had a decent lie, from where he smashed a wood to get to the green in two.

Kapur’s second shot was a bit weak and left him way off and despite fine third shot, he was still short of the green, needing a chip-in to keep his hopes alive. The chip-in did not happen and he managed only a par.

Ramsay, needing two putts to win, stopped his first within six inches and tapped for a birdie to take the title from Kapur.

Kapur finished with a par and ended second, which should ensure he does not have the kind of tension he had this year to keep his card for 2011.

On the win, Ramsay said: “It has to sink and I am over the moon. The trophy has been won by many legends in the game and so it is a great feeling”.

On Kapur, he said: “I am sure Shiv will win this year. He is a great guy and I have played with him many times. He is a great ball striker”.

Kapur, sixth overnight hit the pedal with a sizzling five-under 67 that had just one blemish on the 11th, where he three-putted for a bogey. He then held his nerve on the 16th, when he came out of the bunker to hole an up-and-down for a clutch par. On the 17th, his birdie putt just slid past the hole and on the 18th, where he again gave himself a birdie chance after a tough third shot, the putt turned away when just a foot or short of the cup.

The 27-year-old Kapur bidding to become only the fourth Indian to win an European Tour event - after Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chowrasia — won his last international title in his rookie year in 2005, when he annexed the Volvo Masters of Asia.

Though Kapur had least a share of the lead from the time he turned in four-under 32, it was dramatic right through with Ramsay, a year younger than Kapur, making a great charge on back nine.

After going through his previous 36 holes with a bogey, Kapur was two ahead after 10 holes on the final day. After a decent tee shot on 11th, he played for the wide open area of the green with his second. That, however, left him a long way from the flag. He left his first putt rather shot and then missed the second to take his only bogey of the day.

Ramsay’s birdies on 15th and 17th made him the clubhouse lead with Kapur still on the course, though at the same 13-under, and he stayed there till the end.

Anders Hansen (69), who took a double bogey on par-5 third, was sole third, while Frederik Andersson Hed and Italian Edoardo Molinari (71) were tied for fourth.

Andersson Hed had an action-packed day. He opened with a birdie and the bogeyed the next before three birdies in a row saw him get into lead. A dropped shot on sixth saw him fall and then two more bogeys on eighth and ninth meant he was falling off. Then he found second wind with birdies on 11th and 14th, but it was not enough.