Indian women to make history at Women's Open

Tvesa Malik, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will create golf history at the Women’s Open in Scotland on Thursday with three Indians teeing off at the same major for the first time.

No more than two Indian men have contested a single major.

While Rio 2016 Olympian Aditi and Diksha have previously featured at the Women’s Open, Malik was given an exemption to play at her first major only last weekend when she returned to action at the Ladies Scottish Open.

Malik was the only Indian to make the cut in North Berwick and finished the event in 65th spot.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Women’s Open - formerly known as the Women's British Open - will be a closed event at Royal Troon near Glasgow.

Troon last hosted the men's Open Championship in 2016.

Malik said, "I have some experience of playing with the European players, especially at home at the Hero Indian Open, where I had my first top-10 last year, but a major in Scotland is a different thing altogether.”

The 24-year-old topped the Women's Golf Association of India Tour Order of Merit in 2018 and was tied for sixth at last year's Indian Open, co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.

Milestone approaching for Aditi Ashok

For Aditi Ashok, India’s first female golfing Olympian, the Women’s Open moves the 22-year-old within touching distance of a national record for major appearances.

This will be her 15th, one more than Jeev Milkha Singh whose last major start came at 2016 US Open.

Another man, Anirban Lahiri, has the record of 16 although he should add to that tally in the future.

While Aditi missed the cut at the Ladies Scottish Open last week, the 2016 Women’s Indian Open winner is keen to take positives from the experience ahead of the major offering prize money of USD 4.5 million.

She said, "I didn’t have the best outing last week, but it was good Links practice. And I’m feeling more ready than I felt last week.

"The key for me this week is accuracy off the tee and staying out of the bunkers. Hopefully, the wind isn’t too strong during the week.

Where to watch Women’s Open golf live in India

The Women’s Open will be broadcast live in India on the Eurosport and Eurosport HD TV channels from 3:00 pm IST onwards on Thursday.