Diksha Dagar has every right to be confident heading into her home event at this week’s Hero Women’s Indian Open.
The left-handed star is enjoying her best season to date on the Ladies European Tour (LET), racking up six top-10 finishes and sealing one victory at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open – her second win on the circuit in five years.
Climbing to fourth in the Race to Costa del Sol in the process while also landing the accolade for the best ever showing by an Indian at a Major – Dagar finished T21 at this year’s AIG Women’s Open – the confidence is justifiably beaming for the 22-year-old as she aims to become her nation’s second winner of the Hero Women’s Indian Open.
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“It would be a very proud moment to win the Hero Women’s Indian Open,” Dagar said, who would follow in Aditi Ashok’s footsteps (2016) with a victory this week. “I’m feeling good, this season has been great so far, clearly, my best in five years playing on the LET. This year has pushed my confidence and I’m feeling confident that I will do well. I will do my best!”
The two-time LET winner is one of 32 Indian players teeing up at DLF Golf & Country Club this week, but it’s not just her fine form which makes Dagar the home favourite heading into the 15th staging of the event.
“DLF is like my second home golf course,” Dagar explains, who lives just 30 minutes from the stunning facility on the outskirts of New Delhi. “The greens and the facilities are very good. It is a very tough golf course but it gives you very good preparation for the international events.
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“It’s been very nice to be home after playing a lot of golf internationally. Being here at home is a lot different, it’s a bit easier and you have more crowds supporting you. It feels really good.
“My family will be here. I’ll be honest, golf is growing a lot more in India so a lot of them will be coming to watch.
The Hero Women’s Indian Open will forever be the tournament which first put Dagar on the map after the Deaflympics star won the low amateur award on her LET debut in 2016, aged just 15-years-old.
“It was a good thing,” Dagar remembers. “At that time I used to think it was a very big event and I knew it was a very big opportunity. I am grateful to my family and the people that have supported me through the journey. Now when I play here on the Ladies European Tour in India, I get flashbacks and very good feelings.”
As for the Race to Costa del Sol, Dagar, currently in fourth position on 1,484.61 points, can leapfrog Celine Boutier who sits in first should she finish solo second or better in New Delhi.
But while the prestigious prize is now a reality for the Indian sensation with four events remaining in the 2023 schedule, Dagar is continuing to stay grounded as we approach the crunch end of proceedings.
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She continued: “I’m not thinking too much about that. Yes, I’m hoping to do well and I am trying my best, but I am just going to keep playing my game and do the best that I can.
“My secret has been that I have been focusing on my game and working on it a lot more. I have been putting myself in winning positions and the secret is just believing in myself more.”
Vani proud to represent home club
It’s set to be another special week for India’s Vani Kapoor.
A New Delhi native born and raised just around the corner from the stunning Gurgaon facility, Kapoor is feeling an immense amount of pride heading into her home event as she looks to take advantage of knowing the course as well as anyone in the 120-player field.
“It’s a lot of fun to be home with everyone coming out to support me and the rest of the Indian players,” she said. “There’s quite a lot of players from India here and it’s familiar turf. DLF plays quite difficult but just to know a little bit more about the course is always an advantage.
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“I think there is no better feeling than flying the flag for India. To be given a chance to be working hard towards it, to be fulfilling my dreams along with carrying the flag, I feel truly blessed and really grateful.”
Playing in her 11th Hero Women’s Indian Open, Kapoor is one of 32 Indian players teeing up this week in a field which also includes 35 players from the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI).
The Gary Player designed championship course at DLF Golf & Country is on hosting duties for the sixth edition in a row this week, with home familiarity continuing to make the Hero Indian Women’s Open a standout event for Kapoor on the LET schedule.
“I really like playing here,” the 29-year-old said. “This is my home course and the conditions are amazing throughout the year. It plays so well and the hospitality is great. I feel a lot of pride being Indian and in someway helping to host this event. I definitely feel like it’s one of the best tournaments on the calendar that we have.”
