The two most recent winners of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit made their pedigree count on the opening day of the Hero Women’s Indian Open, with Chiara Tamburlini edging ahead of defending champion Shannon Tan at DLF Golf and Country Club.
Tamburlini, the LET’s leading player in 2024, produced a five-under 67 to take the clubhouse lead on Thursday. Tan, who succeeded the Swiss golfer as the Tour’s No. 1 last season, opened her title defence with a bogey-free 68 to share second place with Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher.
India’s Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth remained within striking distance after matching two-under 70s left them tied fifth, three strokes from the lead. Tvesa Malik added a 71 to give the home contingent three players inside the provisional top 10.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 5.57pm, with Sweden’s Andrea Lignell on the 18th fairway and the only player yet to complete her round.
Tamburlini finds her touch at DLF
Tamburlini arrived in India without having consistently reproduced the form that carried her to the top of the LET two years ago. On Thursday, however, her game looked reassuringly uncomplicated.
She found fairways, controlled her iron shots and converted enough opportunities to set the tournament’s early benchmark.
“I hit quite a few fairways and felt comfortable with my irons,” Tamburlini said. “I converted a lot of putts, and the putter was definitely what made it possible to go low.”
Her performance was particularly impressive on a course that rarely allows players to settle into an easy rhythm. DLF’s narrow landing areas, severe slopes and punishing hazards usually place a premium on damage limitation, but Tamburlini combined control with five birdies to complete the day without a bogey.
Tan was equally assured. The 22-year-old Singaporean made four birdies and kept every bogey off her card as she began the pursuit of consecutive titles in Gurugram.
After finishing runner-up in 2024 and winning last year, Tan has now opened with another round suggesting that her understanding of DLF could again become a decisive advantage.
Pranavi battles illness to remain in contention
Pranavi’s place inside the top five was secured under less comfortable circumstances. The Asian Games gold medallist competed with a stomach illness but avoided a bogey throughout her 70.
“The ailment is not good for this golf course considering how challenging it is,” Pranavi said. “I just had to keep it all together and play, which I did very well.”
Her pairing with Tan renewed a rivalry that produced one of the memorable stories of the Asian Games earlier this month.
Pranavi won gold in Japan, while Tan took bronze. During the closing stages, the Singaporean told Pranavi that if she could not win herself, she hoped her long-time friend would.
Their connection stretches back more than a decade to their junior-golf days. Pranavi was also present when Tan claimed her first LET title at the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
That friendship did not prevent either player from mounting a competitive opening challenge at DLF. With only two shots separating them, another shared tee time over the weekend remains possible.
Avani puts difficult season behind her
Avani Prashanth
Avani joined Pranavi at two-under after producing the kind of controlled approach play that had often eluded her during an injury-disrupted season.
The 20-year-old has managed a lower-back problem involving bulging discs and endured a nine-week competitive stretch that contributed to a slide down the LET standings. A late-season recovery has improved her prospects of retaining playing rights for 2027, allowing her to arrive at the national open with less pressure.
“My approach game was the best it has ever been,” Avani said. “To be able to attack some of these flags and hit it as close as I did is something I’m happy with.”
Malik strengthened the Indian presence near the top with a one-under 71, while two-time LET winner Diksha Dagar opened with a five-over 77 to sit tied 62nd.
Simmermacher completed the leading group despite finding water with her third shot at the 18th. She escaped with par and limited the damage elsewhere to one bogey, keeping alive her pursuit of a maiden LET victory.
The opening round ultimately belonged to players accustomed to competing at the top of the European game. Tamburlini holds the narrow advantage, but Tan is positioned for another title challenge and India has three players close enough to ensure the home interest extends well beyond the first day.
Photo – HWIO
