By Rahul Banerji
A half-million dollar prize purse is up for grabs at the 12th Hero Women’s Indian Open (HWIO) which will have a 120-strong field drawn from over 30 countries.
Defending champion Camille Chevalier of France, former winner Aditi Ashok and a host of Indian professionals led by Vani Kapoor,will headline the competition.
The dreaded Gary Player layout of the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, will host the event from October 18 to 21.
The $500,000 prize money also makes it India’s second richest golf tournament after the men’s Hero Indian Open. It marks a 25 per cent increase over 2017 and a five-fold increase from its inaugural edition in 2007.
In another landmark move, the tournament will now stretch for four days and be telecast live throughout.
Tied sixth finisher in 2017 Vani Kapoor will lead the home challenge.
Also in the fray, the current Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit leader Tvesa Malik, Gursimar Badwal, Gaurika Bishnoi and Amandeep Drall and others.
Quality field
The international cast has defending champion Chevalier and former winner Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, who took the Lacoste Ladies Open de France title earlier this month.
The 2016 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner Beth Allen, Thailand’s Kanyalak Preedasuttjit and Australian Ladies Classic winner Celine Boutier are also likely to be here.
The field is expected to grow as entries are still coming in, the organizers said.
Currently, 11 of the top-20 on the LET Order of Merit have entered the tournament.
Said Hero MtotCorp chief Pawan Munjal, As a long-term sponsor of golf across the world, it gives me great joy and satisfaction to see this sport take giant strides in India.
“The Hero Women’s Indian Open has evolved into a sought after event and continues to grow stronger with each passing year.
“Tournaments such as these inspire young girls to take up the sport as a career.”
Aditi hits form
At the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open in Spain over the weekend, Aditi found some good late form to card a tied fifth finish.
It was her best display of the season as she shot a 6-under 65 in the final round.
The 20-year-old from Bangalore also made sure of a third top-10 finish of the year and a first one in the top-5.
Aditi, who has divided her time between LET, where she has won three times, and the Ladies US PGA, had seven birdies against one bogey on Sunday.
Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands was a runaway winner at 26-under including rounds of 64, 64, 65 and 65.
Hedwall (68), Caroline Masson (66) and Korean amateur Selin Hyun (66) were tied-2nd. Aditi finished alongside South African Ashleigh Buhai.
Aditi has earlier finished tied 7th at the Canberra Classic and also at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
How well these young girls are playing.