Kapur shot a pair of 67s to total 10-under-134 for two
rounds and thus earned a ticket to the US Open for the second year in
succession. Shiv had posted the best finish by an Indian, a tied
23rd, during his US Open debut at Pinehurst last year.
Kapur, who made 12 birdies and two bogeys in his two
rounds on Monday, finished one shot behind the winner Alexander Levy of France . The top
11 players from the international sectional qualifier made it to the US Open.
Shiv, the fourth-highest ranked Indian in the world at 314,
will now be making his fourth Major appearance. The 33-year-old from Delhi , has also been part
of the field at the British Open in 2006 and 2013. He made the cut at the
British Open in his second attempt.
“This afternoon, I was blemish free – five birdies, no
bogeys, so I’m very pleased. That’s two years in a row now I’ve qualified from
here so it is my happy hunting ground. I had a decent showing at Pinehurst last
year so hopefully I can do even better this year,” said the Indian, who was the
2005 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year.
“Last year was the coolest event I’ve played. I got cheered
around all the way and coming up 18 I remember finishing with a birdie and it
was the biggest cheer I’ve ever heard, so the U.S. Open is really, really cool.
At the end of the day, we play the sport to play the Majors and compete against
the best, so it’s a dream come true.
“Michael Campbell showed it can be done (winning the US Open
after coming through qualifiers in 2005). Last year I was on the leaderboard
for a while and I know if I play my best it is not out of the equation. But I
just want to go out there and enjoy playing in another U.S. Open and it will be
a really cool feeling.”
Kapur’s compatriot Anirban Lahiri, the current Asian Tour
Order of Merit leader, is already exempt into the US Open through his top-60
position in the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday. Lahiri will be
making his debut at the event.
Jeev Milkha Singh, the other Indian at the qualifying event
in England ,
missed out on making it to his fifth US Open after he shot scores of 69 and 72
to be tied 20th at three-under-141. He missed the qualifying mark by two
strokes.
The US Open will be held at Chambers Bay Golf Club,
Washington, from June 18-21.
A PGTI Press release
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