Emily Kristine Pedersen from Denmark gets all excited talking about her maiden win at the Hero Women’s Indian Open and is now looking forward to her first title defense a year on.
Pedersen, meeting the media after the Pro-Am said, “It feels great to be back. I won my maiden title here last year, so I have lots of good memories here. There are few changes on the course, its playing really well. 17th green (one of the most difficult holes on the Gary Player course last year) is definitely bigger, so I am really looking forward to the tournament. Last year it inspired me to aim higher and I was really happy to win Rookie of the Year. I feel a little bit more experienced now as I’ve been playing for nearly two years on the LET.”
The field for the historic 10th edition of the US $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), is stronger this year with the inclusion of American LET Order of Merit leader Beth Allen, who has tasted success in her last two starts at the Lacoste Ladies Open De France and Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi, Brittany Lincicome, a two-time Major winner currently 40th on the world rankings and former winners Gwladys Nocera, winner of 14 titles on LET, including two in India and the 2011 LET Player of the year, Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, who also won the Hero Women’s Indian Open at DLF in 2011 before the course was redesigned.
There are six of this year’s LET champions, who between them have won seven titles, with Spaniard Nuria Iturrios (Lalla Meryem Cup), Denmark’s Nanna Madsen (Tipsport Golf Masters), Frenchwoman Isabelle Boineau (AAM Ladies Scottish Open), Beth Allen (Lacoste Ladies Open de France and Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi), Dutchwoman Anne Van Dam (Xiamen Open International) and Thai Supamas Sangchan (Sanya Ladies Open).
The Indian challenge will be led by Olympian Aditi Ashok and the WGAI Hero Order of Merit leader Amandeep Drall, along with local professional Vani Kapoor. Aditi said, “My form has been very good coming into the tournament. I have prepared well this time around. I have also had a few top 10 finishes and I feel that I have improved as a player since the beginning of the year. Hopefully, I will do well at my home event.”
Mr Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, said: “It is heartening to see the Hero Women’s Indian Open in its landmark 10th edition. The participation of some of the best professionals from across the globe at this event will go a long way towards further popularising the game of golf in the country. This tournament is also an excellent platform for budding Indian players to showcase their talent against the best in the world. We look forward to a week of top class golf at the Hero Women’s Indian Open 2016.”
