Kapur still top Indian as two share Saudi International lead

By Rahul Banerji

The experienced Shiv Kapur continued to be the best-placed Indian at the PIF Saudi International in Jeddah on Friday, on 3-under par 137 and in a share of 16^th place.

Harold Varner III of the US and Spain’s Adri Arnaus shared the 26-hole lead on 10-under 130s at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Cameron Smith of Australia and rising American star Matthew Wolff shared third place two shots behind the leaders with the cut falling at 4-over par 144.

Seventy-four professionals and teenage Thai amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat made the weekend rounds as Chikkarangappa S,. Veer Ahlawat and Khalin Joshi failed to survive the cut.

The 14-year-old Ratchanon has made the final two rounds at every professional tournament he has entered, asiantour.com said.

Kapur (65-72) was joined by Shubhankar Sharma (67-71, T21), Rashid Khan (66-75, T45) and Viraj Madappa (71-72, T60) after a windy afternoon.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson of the US stayed on 4-under 136 (65-71). Johnson is in fact going for a third Jeddah title but may now find it hard to haul in the leaders.

Tommy Fleetwood of England was sole occupant of fifth place on 7-under 133 while Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele of the US shared the ninth spot.

Overnight leader Matteo Manassero of Italy was alongside on 5-under 135 with two others having carded a 3-over 73 for the day.

DeChambeau pulls out

Meanwhile, top draw Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the tournament with a hand and hip injury after his opening round, the Asian Tour website said.

Separately, DeChambeau also denied that he had been approached with a reported $135 million offer to be the face of a proposed Super Golf League backed by the Saudi Arabian investment fund PIF, also sponsor of the ongoing event.

Varner and Arnaus both carded 4-under 66s for the day.

“I played really solid,” Varner was quoted as saying later.

“It wasn’t blowing as hard this morning, so I didn’t think it was gettable, but obviously in my group it was pretty gettable, so just trying to hang in there and just give myself a chance.”

Arnaus added: “I’ve been playing this course now for a few years and starting to get the hang of it. Even on this wind, I’ve already seen it in the past, so I know my lines.

“That doesn’t mean that a few shots might not go your way, and that’s what happened on the front nine. On the back nine, we kept it quite well in play.

“So that’s the important part, just putting yourself in a good spot and from there trying to attack.”

Also read: Shiv Kapur, Rashid Khan in Saudi Int’l top-15 after opening day at Jeddah