Wolff, Chevalier, Hedwall confirm for Hero Women’s Indian Open

Ladies Italian Open winner Amy Taylor of England in action during the Hero Women’s Indian Open last year at the DLF course. Image courtesy LET.

By Rahul Banerji

Past champions Caroline Hedwall (2011), Camille Chevalier (2017) and Christine Wolff (2019) are confirmed entries for this year’s Hero Women’s Indian Open that will be played from October 24 to 27 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

The only event on the Ladies European Tour schedule in south Asia, the national women’s open will continue to offer a prize purse of $400,000. As many as seven winners from the current LET season are amongst confirmed entries, organisers said.

In 16 previous editions, 14 of which have been played at the DLF course, Aditi Ashok has been the only home winner so far. Others have come close including Amandeep Drall, joint second in 2022 and Diksha Dagar who was third last year with a late charge.

More than a few others have finished in the top 10 as well though fellow Olympians Ashok and Dagar remain the only two Indians to have won titles on the LET.

With the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour gaining in depth year on year, the search is always on for the next big home challenger to emerge, Women’s Golf Association of India president Kavita Singh said.

“Our domestic tour continues to grow and flourish, with many more girls now attracted to golf. The new crop of girls is extremely talented and hungry for success, and each year gets better,” she noted.

“The improvement in their focus and technique is clearly visible and augurs well for their future as they get ready to compete on the international stage. All this would not have been possible without the support of Hero MotoCorp and Dr Pawan Munjal, who have always stood by us.”

Added Hero MotoCorp executive vice-president Sanjay Bhan, “This is not only India’s flagship event but a key part of the Ladies European Tour calendar.

Exceptional work

“We applaud the Women’s Golf Association of India for their exceptional work and are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with LET. We eagerly anticipate another exciting edition and wish all the players the very best.” 

LET chief executive Alexandra Armas had words of praise for the venue and said she was looking forward to HWIO 2024.

“The Hero Women’s Indian Open has become a staple on the LET schedule and is an event our players continue to look forward to year on year.

“We can’t wait to return to the DLF G&CC, a top-quality venue which earlier this year received the ‘Best Course Conditions’ accolade at the inaugural Ladies European Tour Awards.

“We are immensely proud of our long-standing partnership with the WGAI which continues to inspire generations of female golfers across India and are excited to work with our long-term partners once again to ensure another hugely successful event.”

Besides the three past champions 2024 winners entered include the England trio of Annabel Dimmock (KPMG Women’s Irish Open champion), Alice Hewson (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open winner), and Amy Taylor (Ladies Italian Open victor).

Also in the field are Perrine Delacour from France (Dormy Open Helsingborg), Belgium’s Manon De Roey (Investec SA Women’s Open champion), Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (Joburg Ladies Open. Lacoste Ladies Open de France), and Shannon Tan from Singapore (Magical Kenya Ladies Open). 

Tamburlini, who had now won twice in her rookie LET season, leads the Order of Merit with De Roey in second place, Hewson seventh and Tan in ninth place.

Spectator entry for the tournament will be free of charge on all days.

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