Awe-inspiring Aditi

Rookie Aditi Becomes 1st Indian To Win On The Ladies European Tour; Heads To US LPGA Final Qualifying School.

- Rohit Bhardwaj

As the leader group arrived, a dead calm engulfed the 18th hole at the DLF Golf & Country Club. Till this time, India’s Aditi Ashok, Belen Mozo of Spain and American Brittany Lincicome were locked at two-under par in the $400,000 Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Lincicome, the top-ranked pro in the field at World No. 40, was already on the driving range staying warm in case a playoff followed. Heartbeats soared and tension was visible on the faces of every fan, who was wishing for an outright Indian victory in the 10th edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Then Aditi birdied the final hole from about four feet despite the tremendous pressure to clinch India’s first-ever Ladies European Tour (LET) title, triggering loud cheers and whistles from the crowd. Later she received spontaneous applause from fellow competitors and the large crowd of spectators when she entered the hospitality tent, a heart warming, goose bump moment for everyone present.

The 18-year-old, who had first played in the Hero Indian Open as a 13-year-old amateur in 2011 and finished eighth the following year, was cool as a cucumber when she made that all important putt, which gave her $60,000 as prize money ( Rs 40 lacs approximately) . She didn’t show any emotions even after her triumph, only a handshake with rival Belen, a warm hug with defending champion Emily Pedersen and a fist bump with her caddie Jesus Mozo.