Women's Golf Association of India

Diksha, Tvesa and Vani all set for Women’s Irish Open’s return after 10 years

Dromoland Castle, Ireland, Sep 20:Diksha Dagar, who had a brilliant weekend last week on the Ladies European Tour, is eager to continue from there as she tees up at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

Diksha will be accompanied by three other Indians, Tvesa Malik, who seems to be finding her feet somewhat after a disappointing season, Amandeep Drall, who recently had a career-best T-7 finish Swiss Ladies, and Vani Kapoor, who has also had Top-3 finish this season. A fifth Indian, Ridhima Dilawari is second on the waiting list.

The 400,000 Euro event, which marks the return of the Ladies European Tour (LET) returns to Ireland after 10 years will be held at the Dromoland Castle.

Diksha has been trending well. She was T-12 at the Aland 100 Ladies Open and T-25 at the Open de France. She has also had Top-20 finishes at German Masters and Big Green Egg Open.

Her weekend blitz of 66-64 indicated that she is returning to the kind of form that saw her become only the second Indian to win on the Ladies European Tour in 2019 when she triumphed in South Africa.

Diksha is also keenly looking at the Hero Women’s Indian Open next month, which returns to action after missing out in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. All the Indian girls are looking at the home event with great interest as it will also have valuable points as they try to secure their cards for 2023.

The last Irish Open was held in 2012 with winning Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew triumphing with a one-shot victory over Suzann Pettersen. The champion from 2012 is back this year and is one of the many LET winners getting ready to participate in the 72-hole stroke play competition.

There will be 126 players teeing it up around the picturesque Dromoland Castle including Race to Costa del Sol number one and four-time LET winner Linn Grant.

Seven of the top 10 in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol will be aiming to add more points to their total with Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson (third) and Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher (fifth) still on the hunt for their maiden LET titles.

While there are a winners aplenty from 2022 with Grant (Joburg Ladies Open, Mithra Belgian Ladies Open, Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, Skaftö Open), Meghan MacLaren (Australian Women’s Classic – Bonville), Ana Peláez Trivino (Madrid Ladies Open), Manon De Roey (Aramco Team Series – Bangkok Individual), Tiia Koivisto (Jabra Ladies Open), Jana Melichova (Tipsport Czech Ladies Open), Anne-Charlotte Mora (Åland Ladies Open) and Liz Young (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open) all hoping for more success.

Ireland will be well represented throughout the week and Solheim Cup star and LPGA Tour winner Leona Maguire headlines the home talent. The 27-year-old, who hails from Cavan in Ireland, will be looking to put on an excellent performance in front of a home crowd.