Shiv Kapur qualifies for second straight US Open, joins Anirban Lahiri at year’s second Major

Surrey, England, May 26, 2015: Shiv Kapur joined Anirban Lahiri as the second Indian to qualify for the 2015 US Open. Kapur made the grade after finishing second at the international sectional qualifier at the Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England, on Monday.

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 23^rd, 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 20^th 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.