CHENNAI: When Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri step out on the Royal Birkdale Golf Club course in Southport, England, for the 146th British Open starting on Thursday, it will be the sixth instance of two Indians taking part in a Major.
And they would hope to make the experience better than the fifth. At the 2015 US Open, both had missed the cut.
If recent outings indicate form, Lahiri and Kapur have reason to feel good. Struggling with the putter in the beginning of 2017, Lahiri registered a career-best tied second on the US PGA Tour in the first week of June.
Tied 17th and tied 32nd (last week) since suggest he is in a zone where one solid round could put him in the top bracket.
Back from last year’s surgery layoff with a title and tied-second finish in successive weeks on the Asian Tour in May, Kapur too would fancy chances of bettering his British Open best of tied 73rd in 2013.
With years of experience in Europe, he knows what the challenges are and what needs to be done. He hasn’t played competitive golf after the qualifiers two weeks ago and reached the venue last week to get acclimatised.
“Playing in Majors is what I play golf for. So it’s great to be back,” Kapur told Express before leaving for his third appearance at the oldest Major.
“It’s not just about the best players. The ambiance is different too. It’s the ultimate test for a player. I had a tough time last year, but kept believing I’d be back. I know I can do well. Now it’s a question of getting out there and doing it,” said the 35-year-old from Delhi, who missed the Open cut in his maiden outing in 2006.
“It is often a test of creativity and imagination in links courses. Weather too plays a part. Once you get used to all that, it’s about keeping the faith,” said the player, who has now moved up to 306 in world rankings from 718 at the start of the year.
Tied 23rd in the 2015 US Open (India’s best in the event) and first-round leader at the 2013 British Open, he knows what it takes to do well in big events.
Having played with Lahiri at the Scottish Open last week, SSP Chawrasia found the World No 67 in good nick. With a best of tied 30th in four appearances, which includes a hole-in-one on debut in 2012, the only Indian regular at the PGA Tour has said that he played in Scotland as preparation for British Open.
“Lahiri felt the tied second came at the right time. It has given him confidence and he had a good last round (66) in Scotland.
He said he needed a good finish to get back the belief and I found him in good shape physically and mentally. At this level, it’s often about how you are feeling. He seemed alright, eager to go,” said Chawrasia.
atreyo@newindianexpress.com