Solid home lineup confirmed for Hero Women’s Indian Open

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Gaurika Bishnoi (from left), Vani Kapoor and Amandeep Drall with the Hero Women’s Indian Open trophy at the 2018 launch event in New Delhi. They are all in the field for this year’s edition as well.

By Rahul Banerji

The leading nine players on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour’s Order of Merit have all secured places at next month’s $500,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open.

With 13 events of the domestic season completed, Gaurika Bishnoi, who had a Top-15 finish at the HWIO in 2018, leads the Order of Merit, followed by Neha Tripathi.

The next seven in line are Amandeep Drall, Ridhima Dilawari, Gursimar Badwal, Afshan Fatima, Siddhi Kapoor, Ananya Datar and Khushi Khanijau.

The Hero Women’s Indian Open will be played from October 3 to 6 on the Gary Player layout at the DLF Golf and Country Club. 

Earning spots

File photo of multiple domestic pro tour winner Tvesa Malik. Image courtesy WGAI.

Two players who have not played 80 per cent of the events to qualify for the Order of merit, but have won events, have also been given a spot. They are Tvesa Malik, a three-time winner in six starts, and rookie Gauri Karhade.

In addition, Smriti Mehra, Vani Kapoor, Diksha Dagar and amateur Sneha Singh, a tournament winner on the women’s pro Tour this year, have also gained starting slots.

Three international players, Melanie Maetzler of Switzerland, Liu Yan of China and Renuka Suksukont of Thailand are on the list as well.

Amateurs Seher Atwal, Nishtha Madan and Pranavi Urs are in the field on the basis of their World Amateur Golf Rankings, while Hyderabad amateur Sneha Singh got in as a winner and another spot has been given to the talented Anika Verma.

The HWIO celebrates its 10th anniversary on the Ladies European Tour and is now in its 13th staging.

Hyderabad teenager Sneha Singh is the only amateur to have won on the domestic pro tour this season. Image courtesy WGAI.

Steady growth

The tournament began in 2007 with a purse of $100,000 which grew to $300,000 when Hero took over the title sponsorship in 2010. 

It is now worth half a million dollars, which is equivalent to Rs. 3.6 crore. The winner takes home US $ 75,000, approximately Rs. 54 lakh.

Some of the established international participants who have entered the field are defending champion Becky Morgan, 2017 winner Camille Chevalier, besides leading names like Beth Allen and Becky Brewerton, both former LET Order of Merit winners.

Other LET winners in the field are Meghan MacLaren, Marianne Skarpnord, Kanyalak Preedasuttijit, Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, Florentyna Parker and Linda Wessberg. Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew has also entered for the tournament.

Also read: Tvesa Malik stands tall at the finish for year’s third title

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