Abu Dhabi, Jan 21 (IANS) Shiv Kapur continued his fine form Thursday with a solid four-under 68 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open golf on the European Tour.
The Delhi golfer, who lost in a play-off at the South African Open in December, had five birdies and one bogey in his 68 that placed him tied 17th. He was three shots behind the leading trio, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland and Keith Horne, who shot 65 each.

Jeev Milkha Singh, who started on the tenth, was four-under after 13 holes but then dropped five straight bogeys from the fifth to the ninth to plummet to one-over and tied 88th place.

Jyoti Randhawa carded a two-under 70 and was tied 36th, while S.S.P. Chowrasia opened with a 72 and was tied 72nd.

Kapur opened with a birdie on tenth and then gave away that shot on the 16th before slotting back to back birdies on 17th and 18th to turn in two-under. On the second nine, the front half of the course, Kapur had birdies on second and eighth to finish in 68.

Randhawa had one birdie on the front nine and then had three more on the second but also gave away two bogeys in his 70.

None of the three leaders dropped a bogey. While Poulter and Bland had seven birdies each, Horne had five birdies and an eagle in his 65.

Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy were in the group of nine players tied for fourth at 66 each. Garcia had two bogeys and eight birdies while McIlroy had eight birdies and one double bogey.

The winner of the Race to Dubai Lee Westwood was tied 25th with a three-under 69.