Lightning-Fast Greens Test Golfers at Hero Women’s Indian Open
The DLF Golf and Country Club course has proven to be a formidable challenge for golfers at the Hero Women’s Indian Open (HWIO). The lightning-fast greens and demanding approach shots have tested the skills of the 114-strong field, with only seven players managing to finish under par on the opening day.
Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova emerged as the clubhouse leader with a superb three-under performance. Spain’s Mireia Prat, Frenchwoman Perrine Delacour, and England’s Florentyna Parker are tied for second at two-under.
Despite the challenging conditions, Kouskova remained cautious about her chances. “A lot of golf is yet to be played. I have to be patient and confident over the next few days,” she said.
The local Indian contingent faced a tough day on the course. Ridhima Dilawari and Pranavi Urs were the best performers, tied for 17th at two-over. Tvesa Malik, Diksha Dagar, and Hitaashee Bakshi struggled, with Malik carding five-over, Dagar shooting six-over, and Bakshi eight-over.
Dagar expressed her frustration with the course’s speed. “They rolled the course a little too much which made the greens very fast. I was playing here after a long time, so I couldn’t get used to the speed,” she said.
Kouskova’s strong start was marred by a triple bogey on the 13th hole. However, she recovered with an eagle on the 15th and a birdie on the 16th to maintain her lead.
The HWIO is a prestigious event on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and offers a total prize pool of $400,000. The tournament will continue over the next three days, with the winner set to be crowned on Sunday.