Diksha Dagar, India’s top-ranked player on the Ladies European Tour (LET), will lead the home charge at the $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open, which tees off at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday. Dagar, currently 22nd on the Order of Merit list, finished third in this event last year and will be eager to improve on that performance.
Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, the LET OOM leader with three wins this season, is the favorite to win the tournament. Other contenders include Belgium’s Manon De Roey, second in the OOM standings, England’s Alice Hewson and Amy Taylor, Perrine Delacour of France, and Shannon Tan of Singapore.
A total of 114 players will compete in the tournament, including 26 Indians. Among the other Indians to watch are Tvesa Malik, who won her first international title in South Africa this year, and the talented 19-year-old Hitaashee Bakshi, who leads the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) OOM.
The course is expected to play firm and fast, which will test the players’ skills. “It’s always a tough course to play,” said Dagar. “The secret is to take one shot at a time. On courses like these, tee and approach shots become very important.”
The deep-faced bunkers, undulating and narrow fairways, water hazards, and sharp bends approaching several greens will require the players to make smart choices and hit accurate shots. “Short game, especially putting, is going to be tough,” said Dagar. “You have to be good at course management. You should know where to place the ball. You don’t want to end up on the wrong side here. This is a course that challenges all aspects of your game.”
Dagar, who missed the cut in her last event in Taiwan, is determined to bounce back in front of her home crowd. “The conditions in Taiwan were very different,” she said. “It was quite windy, which meant we were not getting the desired distances. Here, it will be difficult to control the putts because the greens are so fast.”
Despite the challenges, Dagar is confident that she can contend for the title. “I’m feeling good about my game,” she said. “I’ve been working hard on my fitness and strength, and I’m starting to see the results. I’m excited to play in front of my home crowd and I’m hoping to make them proud.”
