More cash bounty for women’s golfers
New Delhi, Sept. 25: India’s premier women’s golf event — the Hero Indian Open — will be contested over 72 holes for the first time when it tees off at the DLF Golf and Country Club here from October 18 to 21, the organisers announced on Tuesday.
The event will see as many as 120 players from over 30 countries vying for the coveted trophy.
The tournament will witness the defending champion Camille Chevalier of France trying to extend her hold over the trophy from a strong field of international and Indian players.
The tournament, cosponsored by Castrol, will set a host of new landmarks — starting with the prize money that touches a record USD half a million for the first time, making it the second richest golf tournament in the country after the men’s
● Indian Open.
The prize money gets a 25 per cent increase over 2017 and a five- fold increase from its inaugural edition in 2007.
For the first time, tournament will be over 72 holes the contested and will be telecast live over all four days, a significant landmark for Indian women’s golf.
Vani Kapoor, who finished a career- best tiedsixth in the previous edition, will be leading the Indian challenge.
Among other top Indians is the current Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit leader — Tvesa Malik, along with Amandeep Drall, and Gursimar Badwal among others.
The international players include Camille, former champion Swedish Caroline Hedwall, Beth Allen, Thailand’s Kanyalak Preedasuttjit - winner of the Thailand Ladies Open, and Celine Boutier.
SHARMA AIMS TO EXTEND LEAD Shubhankar Sharma will resume his chase for the coveted Asian Tour Order of Merit crown when he tees off for the $ 850,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters in Chinese Taipei on Thursday.
The 22- year- old Sharma will spearhead the elite 123- man field from 23 countries at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, the traditional home of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters which is celebrating its centennial year in 2018 as the oldest club in the country.
South African Justin Harding, highest- ranked player in 97th place on the Official World Golf Ranking ( OWGR), will also feature in the storied event alongside Korea's Sanghyun Park and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe, all placed inside the top- 10 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
The prize money touches USD half a million for the first time, a 25 per cent increase over 2017 and a fivefold increase from its inaugural edition in 2007