Women’s Indian Open to have a strong field

Defending champion Camille Chevalier of France is among the 120 golfers from 30 countries who will take part in the Hero Women’s Indian Open to be held at the Gary Player designed DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon from October 18-21.

The 12th edition of the event will set a host of new landmarks, starting with the prize money that touches a record $500,000, making it the second-richest golf tournament in the country after the men’s Indian Open.

SECOND-RICHEST EVENT The prize money gets a 25 percent increase from last year and a five-fold increase from its inaugural edition in 2007.

For the first time, the tournament will be contested over 72 holes and telecast live over all four days.

Boasting of a strong field, Vani Kapoor, who finished a career-best tied sixth last year, will be leading the Indian challenge. Among other top Indians are current Women’s Pro Golf Tour order of merit leader Tvesa Malik, Amandeep Drall and Gursimar Badwal.

The international players include Camille Chevalier, 2011 champion Caroline Hedwall, who also won the Lacoste Ladies Open de France on the Ladies European Tour earlier this month, 2016 LET order of merit winner Beth Allen, Thailand Ladies Open winner Kanyalak Preedasuttjit and Australian Ladies Classic winner Celine Boutier.

With over four weeks to go, the field is expected to grow stronger as more entries are still coming in.

Currently, 11 of the top-20 players on the LET Order of Merit have entered the tournament, which is already higher than previous years. There are also nine tournament winners in the field.

Aditi Ashok is the only Indian to win the women’s national Open, in 2016.

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