Scottish Open: 69 for Shiv Kapur

Shiv Kapur has made a good start to his campaign at the  Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. The Indian was two over through seven holes, but recovered quickly to make five birdies in a two under 69, that should keep him inside the top twenty at the end of the first round.  Rory McIlroy is the current clubhouse leader at 7-under 64, but there are still plenty of golfers working their charms on one of the oldest links courses in the world. Jeev Milkha Singh was T24 after finishing one-under, despite a double bogey at the 14th and a bogey at 16 threatening to wreck his round. Gaganjeet Bhullar though suffered, slipping to a 75, that leaves him in peril at 4-over.

Kapur started his day with a bogey at the par-4 first hole and added another five at the par-4 7^th hole. But the golfer from New Delhi was encouraged by a birdie at the par-3 8^th hole. The 32 year old cushioned his card with two more birdies – at the 10^th & 12^th to finally nick one from the demanding course.

Balgownie dropped him back to even at the 14^th, but the determined golfer stayed aggressive to draw back to back birdies at the 16^th & 17^th to end the day on a gleeful note. Kapur was locked in T13 with ten other golfers including Paul Casey, Darren Clarke and Nicolas Colsaerts.

Singh made the turn in an even 36 – two birdies offset by two bogeys. The back nine was eventful for the man from Chandigarh – back to back birdies at 11 & 12 were undone when he made 6 at the par-4 14th hole. But to his credit, Singh regained his composure to post a 70 in his first round.

Meanwhile, McIlroy took charge of the clubhouse lead with a commanding round of golf. The young Irishman made as many as eight birdies, including four straight from the 8^th hole to earn a one shot lead over Kristoffer Broberg.

Luke Donald and Marc Warren were at T5 after making 67. Donald had a spotless round, padded by four birdies – two on the outward nine and two more on his way back. Michael Hoey was alone in fourth, just one back from Broberg.

The Swede also had a spectacular bogey free round – with four birdies on the front nine and two more on his way back for a 65. Hoey was one over after the front nine, but his putter was unstoppable soon after he made the turn.

The highlight of Hoey’s round was an eagle at the 15^th that was sandwiched between four birdies, helping him race to the clubhouse in just 29 strokes.

Report by Anand Datla

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