Shiv Kapur off to strong start, Randhawa set to miss cut

Madrid: Shiv Kapur got off to a strong start in Madrid Masters with an opening round of three-under 69 that

placed him tied 27th but fellow Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa is certain to miss the cut after a horrendous eight-over 80. SSP Chowrasia, the other Indian in the fray, was lying tied 62nd after his round of one-under 71. It was, however, Shiv Kapur who turned in the best card by an Indian. The Delhi golfer made the most of his front nine journey, dropping just one bogey in the sixth hole. Shiv parred the first hole before nailing back-to-back birdies and he finished the stretch on a birdie-birdie note to be three-under at the turn. In contrast, Chowrasia had a terrible start with a double bogey greeting him on the opening hole and the eighth hole costing another stroke. The second hole birdie was the lone highlight in this stretch for the affable Indian. It was the bogey-free back nine, studded with three birdies, which allowed the Kolkata pro sign off with a sub-par card. Randhawa`s front nine proved even worse as the lanky pro failed to drain a single birdie but dropped as many as four bogeys and a triple bogey that put paid to all his hopes of staying out for weekend action. The trio of Jamie Donaldson, Luke Donald and Rhys Davies shared the lead at seven-under 65. PTI