Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland, the current Ladies European Tour Order of Merit leader, leads a strong field for the Women’s Indian Open 2024, which will be contested from October 24-27 at the region’s flagship event, with a total reward of US$ 400,000, will see the return of nine players who made the Top 10 in the 2023 edition. The foreign field will have a difficult fight from the strong Indian contingent, which includes Diksha Dagar (third place last year) and Gaurika Bishnoi (eighth).
The field’s three previous champions are Christine Wolf (2019), Camille Chevalier (2017), and Caroline Hedwall (2011). The field is further enhanced by the involvement of several renowned players, notably Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab, who won the 2023 Order of Merit. Another previous OOM winner, Lee Anne Pace of South Africa, who won the LET title in 2010, will also compete. Caroline Hedwall, the 2010 champion and 2011 Players Player of the Year, will also be in attendance.
Tamburlini, a Swiss golfer, is making waves in the world of golf as an exciting potential. During her first year, she enjoyed tremendous individual success, winning two titles: the Joburg Ladies Open in April and the Lacoste Open de France two weeks ago. Tamburlini recently showed her leadership talents as she led her squad to victory. The Women’s Indian Open, founded in 2007, anticipated a stiff battle from Indian entrants looking to build on their outstanding achievement in the 2023 edition, where three Indian golfers finished in the top ten.
Among the top ten Indian finishers in 2023, Diksha, a two-time LET winner, and Gaurika Bishnoi, a frequent WPG Tour winner in India, are prominent. Amateur Avani Prashanth, who tied for sixth place last year, was also on the list. Avani, who has previously competed as an amateur, returns to her favorite event for the first time as a professional. She has been given the honor of a special invitation to the event, where she will make her professional debut.
Many of the 2024 season’s winners have confirmed their entries. They feature a promising English duo, Alice Hewson (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open champion) and Amy Taylor (Ladies Italian Open winner) Perrine Delacour of France (Dormy Open Helsingborg), Belgium’s Manon De Roey (Investec SA Women’s Open champion), and Singapore’s Shannon Tan (Magical Kenya Ladies Open champion) will also compete.
Caroline Hedwall, a seven-time LET winner who last won in 2022 in Andalucia Costa Del Sol in Spain, is one of the most notable returning players, having won the event in her rookie year in 2011. Since then, she has finished runner-up three times: in 2012 (to Pornanong Phatlum), in 2018 (tied second with three others), and in 2022.
Hedwall, who has previously competed in the Solheim Cup, considers the Women’s Indian Open to be one of her favorite events, having won four times in her debut season in 2011. While Hedwall won once and was runner-up three times, Christine Wolf was T-2 in 2018 before winning in 2019.
Several players in this category will be hoping to win their first Women’s Indian Open championship after finishing second in the previous. Other players in the field who have finished second or tied for second but never won include Sara Kjellker (2023), Amandeep Drall (2022), Marianne Skarpnord (2019), Michelle Thompson (2017), and Hannah Burke (2014).