URS IN CONTENTION ON HOME SOIL

Pranavi Urs is her country’s best placed player heading into the weekend at the Hero Women’s Indian Open with the 21-year-old currently tied for seventh on one-over par.

After opening with a round of 74 (+2) in difficult course conditions, Urs followed things up with a 71 (-1) on Friday to move into contention at DLF Golf & Country Club.

“Yesterday I started slow, Urs said, currently 27th in the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit. “I started with three bogeys, but DLF is such a course that you can go five under, and you can also go five over. So I think you just have to be patient, which I was yesterday, for a two-over.

“Today I started off pretty good, and I think I was just consistent. And, I’m happy with the one-under. I think my putting has been good both days. I think my pace has been very good on the golf course, which really helps with greens like this. And, just happy with the play.”

Hailing from Bangalore, Urs is attempting to become her nation’s second winner of the Hero Women’s Indian Open following Aditi Ashok’s heroics in 2016.

“Tomorrow I’ll not be aggressive,” she continiued. “But try just sticking to the plan and trying to hit as many regulations as possible. And, hopefully it goes well.”

Elsewhere on the home front, Ridhima Dilawari is two shots back from her compatriot in a tie for 12th position.

The Indian said: “I’ve been trying to think a little bit better on the course and just be more confident and assertive and just trust myself a little bit more.

“The course has been pretty tough, pretty fast it’s been pretty tough and fast, but I think you just have to try and be as forgiving as you can for yourself like even if you make a small mistake like don’t make such a big deal because people are going to make mistakes and you’re going to make a few mistakes, you just need to know how to move forward from those.”

The leader of the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) Order of Merit, Hitaashee Bakshi, is also in the mix after she carded a round of the week 68 (-4) on Friday to soar into T16.

Bakshi said: “I don’t know if it was just because I was hitting it well or it was the different mindset that I had, but today I personally felt that the greens were a little softer than yesterday, so I felt that that kind of made it a little bit more easier than it was than yesterday. And I think today the golf course itself was really kind to me to let go and was kind enough to have a good bounce.”

Home favourite Diksha Dagar is two shots further back in a tie for 24th on six-over-par. Currently 22nd in the Order of Merit, Dagar says it is a “bucket list” dream to win her home event in Delhi.