Women's Golf set for giant leap forward with first Indian Open

Gurgaon, Mar 13 (UNI) Women's Professional golf in India marked a huge step forward and is all set to join the big league alongside other Asian giants with the cream of European and Asian golfing talents teeing off at the world class DLF Golf and Country Club in the first ever 1,00,000 dollar DLF Women's Indian Open from here tomorrow.

Several stars, including the likes of Ladies European Tour stars Kiran Matharu and Anna Rawson, top ranked Ladies Asian Golf Tour golfer Libby Smith, besides India's own Ladies PGA Tour star Smriti Mehra and Irina Brar, will look to master the challenging course which is peppered with strategically placed bunkers and water-bodies in the three-day event.

Australian Anna Rawson, who has been voted among the ten most beautiful sportswomen in the world, is also one of the biggest names on the 'Ladies European Tour' and posted one top-ten and two top-20 finishes in only 11 events.

But emerging talent of Britain Kiran Matharu, who is being touted as the answer to Michelle Wei, will not lack in motivation as she will get plenty of support from the audience. Her grandparents belong to Nawanshar in Punjab and the her cousins from Jalandhar will be cheering her on from the sidelines.

Matharu, who is only fourteen years old, is the youngest European on the Ladies European Tour to have represented England right from the under-14's level.

When asked who she would support--India or England in the World Cup, she admitted to not having much knowledge about the game.

On being pushed further, she said if it came to a choice, her heart would beat for India. But her heart is divided between India and her country of origin-England. She revealed that the golf kit (bag) has an both, the Indian flag and the Great Britain flag.

However, her favourite was neither Sachin Tendulkar or Andrew Flintoff.

The sardar of tweak Monty Panesar occupies that pride of place.

The par-72 Arnold Palmer designed golf course will also witness some of the best names in junior women's golf like Tanya Wadhwa and Yushira Budhram. Besides, Irina Brar, another name that dominated Indian golf over the years, will also be looking to get club swinging nicely for her.

The winner will pocket 15,000 dollars, the runner-up 10,000 dollar while the thrid placed professional will benefit by 7500 dollars.

UNI