By Rahul Banerji
Eighteen years and 118 tournaments is what it took for Becky Morgan to land her maiden title at the DLF Golf and Country Club, winning the $500,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open by two shots on Sunday.
It was also ninth time lucky for the Welshwoman, who has spent close to two decades criss-crossing the Atlantic in search of success.
The 44-year-old was ecstatic. “I have always loved everything about India,’ she said.
“And that’s why I have kept coming back. I did come close to winning a couple of times and finally I got the job done this time,” said the elated Morgan.
Starting the day sharing the lead alongside Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark and Eleanor Givens, Morgan held off a four-player pack.
Caroline Hedwall (68), Christine Wolf (70), Felicity Johnson (70) and Nicole (71) shared second place at 5-under 283.
Two Thais, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (69), Supamas Sangchan (70) and Finland’s Noora Komulainen (73) were 1-under 287 and T6, as only eight players finished under par.
Tvesa Malik and Gaurika Bishnoi were the best Indians at tied 13th. The two, in their second year of professional golf, shot 73 and 72 respectively to finish at 1-over 289.
They were eight shots behind Morgan.
Vani Kapoor (70), playing with tendinitis this week, and Astha Madan (70) were T37th. Teenager Sifaat Sagoo with a two-under par 70 on Sunday was the top amateur at T33.
Concentration lapse
Gaurika said, “I was very happy to have fought back from back-to-back double bogeys when I suffered a lapse of concentration.
“But four birdies in last seven holes gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to score on a tough course.
“This is my last event of the year and I will now focus on my final year examinations in college and then get back to full-time golf next year.”
Tvesa had as many as six birdies, but two double bogeys ruined her card. “I played the HWIO last year, but this year’s performance gives me the belief that I can do way better and I am looking forward to doing well at the LET Q-School,” she said
Morgan has played every edition of the HWIO since it came on the Ladies European Tour in 2010. In past eight editions, she has had three Top-10 finishes including second in 2015 and third in 2011. She was T-10 in 2010.
Morgan stays steady
Morgan had three birdies against no bogeys on the front nine, but she dropped a shot on the 11th. She then steadied herself to birdie the par-4 13th and parred the last five holes.
Hedwall had set the clubhouse target at 5-under with a birdie on her final hole.
Wolf, till then at 7-under with Morgan, found the water in front of the 18th green, just as she had on Saturday. This time she came out with a double bogey seven which ended her chances.
Morgan, still at 7-under, said she hardly looked at the scoreboard through the day. She held her nerve and putted out for a par and the title at 7-under.
“I can retire now!” she smiled “But I’ll pretty much be playing full-time in Europe now because I didn’t do too well in the States and I’m looking forward to a better schedule next year. I’ll be enjoying myself more now!”
The capacity to hold the nerve till end is the key to success. Thanks for letting us know about HERO Women’s Indian Open golf.
Have to admire the determination and tenacity of Becky Morgan who has toiled on golf courses around the world for 18 long years before winning her very first title at the Hero Women’s Indian Open 2-18. Such feats are no less heroic than many others we write about who are superstars in their respective sports.