Ridhima Dilawari won at Zion Hills Golf County
Golf In the Indian Monsoon
The Indian Monsoons, arriving after the scorching summer months of May, June and bits of July, bring a refreshing change. Golfers in the northern regions of the subcontinent eagerly anticipate the cooler weather, as golf courses are at their greenest—offering a lush and vibrant playing experience.
The 10th leg of the Hero Women’s Golf Tour, held at Zion Hills in Kolar, Karnataka, at the end of July, saw an exciting comeback. With more than ten titles already to her name, Riddhima Dilawari returned to winning form, claiming the top spot and a prize of ₹2,20,000. This was Riddhima’s maiden victory in 2025. This victory propelled her to 2nd place in the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour rankings after ten events. Riddhima now faces a test of grit, as she is just ahead of stalwart Amandeep Drall and Hyderabad’s rising star Sneha Singh. Special mention goes to Saanvi Somu, India’s budding amateur talent, who impressively secured second place. A wonderful treat to see some female caddies at Zion Hills County. The female caddies double up as gardeners and are a rare sight. Great kudos to courses that have female caddies.
On the international front, women’s professional golf took center stage with two major back-to-back championships in Scotland and Wales. The €2 million ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, near Glasgow, and the €9.5 million AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales drew global attention. The 6,750-yard Royal Porthcawl, regarded as Wales’ premier links course, hosted the AIG Women’s Open for the first time. Both events challenged players with their long, windswept seaside layouts.
English golfer Lottie Woad, in her first professional appearance, delivered a spectacular 21-under-par performance in the ISPS Women’s Scottish Open. The following week it was the Japanese contingent dominated early, with Miyu Yamashita ultimately clinching the coveted AIG title through remarkable consistency. Three Japanese players finishing in the top five underscored their mastery of links golf—a format not as common on the LPGA circuit in the US.
India’s own Diksha Dagar, a two-time Olympian, finished tied for 46th. Making the cut at the AIG Women’s Open was itself an achievement, showcasing her mental resilience. In her past twelve events, Diksha has made twelve cuts, further solidifying her reputation. She also produced a memorable eagle on the second day at the 9th hole.
In exciting news for Indian golf, Diksha Dagar and Vani Kapoor are set to compete in the $1.5 million China Indoor Golf Open and the Golfzon Open in Yanji, China, later this month. This innovative indoor format could mark the beginning of a long-term shift in competitive golf.
Looking ahead, the stage is set for two Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) events in September, starting with the inaugural tournament in Chandigarh. Exciting times are on the horizon for Indian golf.
Champika N Sayal
5
th August 2025
