Kapur makes steady start in Italy

Milan, Italy, May 9 (UNI) Indian golfer Shiv Kapur made a steady start with a first round score of two under 70 to occupy the tied 53rd position at the European Tour's Methorios Capital Italian Open here.

The 26-year-old Kapur trails first round leader, Paraguay's Marco Ruiz by seven strokes.

Kapur had an action-packed front nine yesterday. After making a birdie on the first and dropping a bogey on the second, he had birdie-birdie-bogey on the fourth, fifth and sixth.

Kapur then sank another birdie on the ninth before making the turn. On the back nine he birdied the 14th and bogeyed the 17th.

Meanwhile, in the US PGA Tour's Players Championship being played at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Daniel Chopra shot an even par 72 in the first round to be tied 35th. First round leader Sergio Garcia fired six under 66.

Chopra's first round was marked by birdies on the second and 10th and bogeys on the eighth and 11th.

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