Simi leads Indian charge at Open

GURGAON, March 25: Barely a month after the men negotiated the undulating greens of the DLF Golf and Country Club and a certain Kiwi made his mark by painting the course 'brown', it is the ladies' turn to add a blazing hue to the proceedings.
The sun, of course, will play its part but the acclimatised Asian brigade is not expected to wither when the curtains are raised on the second edition of the $120,000 DLF Women's Indian Open on Wednesday.
To predict a winner in golf is always hazardous, unless a Tiger is prowling, and the beauty of the game is that surprise packages are unwrapped time and again.
Ladies PGA regular Simi Mehra, of course, will be the focal point of all the locals. With her monopoly of the Indian scene, she is expected to be the figurehead of the domestic challenge at the 54-hole stroke play event. Although unhappy with her performance in Mexico, the lady who was struggling with jetlag and an overdose of Holi celebrations believes that she is back in the swing of things. "I know I'm capable of winning this tournament," she expressed. And her tenacity seems to be infectious, as the rest of the Indian field are also licking their lips in anticipation.
Youngster Tanya Wadhwa, who is based in Dallas, took a break from academics simply to prepare for the Open. With golfer brother Varun in tow, she expects to put a spanner in the works, or more appropriately, a putter. "I have taken three weeks off from school just to concentrate on this event. My brother who is caddying for me is reading the greens well and it's easy to discuss my shots with him so he's a great help," smiled the 15-year-old. Interestingly, journeywoman Simi is not-so-secretly banking on the teen to upset the applecart. "I definitely feel that she has the game and maturity to win this event," she hoped.
Another amateur expected to cause a flutter is Sharmila Nicollet. Incidentally, British legend Laura Davies, who had partnered her in the Challenge match at the European event in Bangalore, had remarked that the All-India amateur champion was the finest example of a home-grown player. Besides them, pro Irina Brar, who had teamed up with Simi in the Women's World Cup of Golf this year, and was fourth here last year, will lead the home challenge.
But the chances are that the strong foreign contingent could once again prove to be the ones to beat. In a tournament hit by the withdrawal of World Cup winner Celeste Troche of Paraguay, Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, who heads the Asian Money List this year, Australia's Sunny Park, Brazil's Maria Priscila Lida and Japan's Yuki Sakurai are the favourites. Meanwhile, Britain's Kiran Matharu, who has been lighting up the Ladies European Tour, may have the last laugh on a course which has been repeatedly termed as 'continental'.