New Delhi: Even as the overseas players were making the most of their early arrival in India adjusting to the course and conditions home golfers were busy fancying their chances against higher-ranked opponents ahead of the $300,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open, which tees off at the Delhi Golf Course on Thursday.
India’s women golfers, led by the seasoned Sharmila Nicolett and veteran Simi Mehra, are banking on their knowledge of DGC the home course for most of them and their style of game, to excel this week.
The 54-hole strokeplay event, tri-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the Women’s Golf Association of India, has been for the first time moved out of the DLF Golf and Country
Club to a new venue.
Order of Merit leader Neha Tripathi, local star Vani Kapoor, Ankita Tiwana besides amateurs Aditi Ashok, Gauri Monga and Gurbani Singh will be the other home players in the field of 107, that has 19 Indians (12+7 amateurs) and 45 LET players.
Vani, who has won twice on the domestic tour, was confident of putting up a good show. “DGC suits my game, which demands straight hitting and accuracy. I hope I will have an edge over others here, which is my home course. “I think the LET players will be intimidated by the narrow fairways which have bushes on both sides.
They are used to playing on longer courses.” However she added: “The greens are faster than usual. I guess, it is done to suit the LET standards.” Meanwhile, Aditi was happy to return to one of favourite courses, where she recorded her best score of four-under.Sharmila, who was recovering from a toe injury, was eyeing a top10 finish this week.
“I have improved on my short game. I hoping for a top-10 finish and securing a card for next year,” she said.
?
?
