Shiv gears up for another encounter with Tiger

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) An encounter with Tiger Woods can be both unnerving and enervating for lesser mortals but Shiv Kapur seems to be made of different stuff altogether and the exciting Indian talent is ready for another round of battle with the iconic American.

In an interview with UNI here today, Shiv said, ''I generally don't lose my sleep thinking over the field and I have had a few tournaments where he was part of the field. Definitely he is a player who has a certain aura around him, which you just can't ignore but I was never over-awed.'' Asked when was the first time he ran into Woods, Shiv said, ''I don't exactly remember but since then I have shared the field with him four-five times. It's time about I beat him, no?'' After playing Indian Open and Bilt Open here, Shiv flies to Shanghai for the five million dollar HSBC Champions and then lands in Japan for the Dunlop Phoenix and on both occasions, Woods would grace the courses.

''Golf is an exciting individual game which is unlike tennis or cricket where you have to face a (Roger) Federer return or a Brett Lee bouncer. Here, you hit a stationary ball.

''And so, to be precise, I have not played against Woods, I have played with him,'' Shiv explained.

Last year's Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, Shiv says the stress remains on his own game and not the peers.

''Woods hits 350 yards which I can't. All I try is to return my best score and any focus remains on the green. If my score is good enough to beat others, it's okay. If it's not, it's not.

''You control things which you can. You have to think about your gameplan and the conditions out there,'' he elaborated.

Winner of last year's Volvo Masters of Asia, Shiv cherishes his maiden major experience and has no doubt in mind that his most memorable week of the career so far has been the British Open experience in July this year.

''That was a dream-come-true and coming in the second year of turning pro, it was incredible. Everything was so fantastic. I was paired with childhood idol Fred Couples and I just cherish the week,'' he reminisced.

Now that he has secured his next year's card in the European Tour, Shiv says he has his long-term plan but he was not rushing it.

''Next year, I would have a full season in the European Tour.

Initially, I had my eyes on the PGA Tour but Jyoti (Randhawa) advised me not to rush things and I respect his opinion. I would go full-throttle so that I stand chance of winning a title there,'' he said.

Shiv, in the long run, sees himself as a PGA Tour regular and dreams of winning a major some day.

''In the long run, I see myself there and winnings a major is the ultimate dream and any one of the four would do,'' he quipped.

Shiv, likened to Justin Leonard by Fred Couples, is also comfortable with the perssure of expectations.

''When someone like Fred says something like that, it's not pressure for me but motivation and that goads me to produce my best when I go out,'' Shiv added.

UNI AY PM RK1500