Gurugram, Oct 26: The Hero Women's Indian Open, currently taking place at the DLF Golf & Country Club, has come under intense scrutiny due to the challenging playing conditions that have sparked discontent among top professionals, including South African golf legend Lee-Anne Pace. On Saturday (October 26), Pace, who was registered for the tournament but unable to compete due to a virus, voiced her concerns regarding the fairness of the course setup, particularly criticizing the speed and firmness of the greens.
In this year’s event, the cut was set at an unprecedented 10-over par, a stark contrast to previous tournaments. "I have to be completely honest; I think it's a little unfair towards the golfers," Pace remarked. "I walked nine holes the first two days, and the pin positions, combined with the firmness and speed of the greens, just weren't fair. If you're on the wrong side of the hole, you have absolutely no chance."
The tournament features a competitive field of 114 women, yet only seven players managed to achieve under-par scores in the opening round, with just nine pros scoring below par in the second round. This poor performance has raised alarm bells, particularly regarding the firmness of the greens, which registered a stimpmeter speed of 12. Many players claimed this speed is not only unusual but also below standard for European conditions, which typically expect greens to run at around 10.
Rosie Davies, a player who has been competing in India for the last five years, also criticized the organizers. "To put it mildly, the way the playing conditions are set up is a huge shame. We're accustomed to playing on greens with a speed of 10, but here it was 12. The bigger issue, though, was the firmness of the greens; they were bouncing the ball from every angle," she stated. "The cut line at 10-over is a poor reflection of the tournament and puts the women's pros and the level of competition in a bad light. I hope they do something about it."
In comparison, the previous editions of the Hero Women's Indian Open showcased significantly better playing conditions. In 2023, Aline Krauter of Germany won the event at an impressive 15-under par, with 16 players submitting under-par scores in the first round and 20 in the second. The cut that year was set at a more favorable six-over par. Similarly, in 2022, when Olivia Cowan claimed her first LET victory, 22 golfers registered under-par scores in Round 1, with 11 players doing so in Round 2, leading to a cut at eight-over par.
The feedback from professionals highlights the critical need for tournament organizers to ensure that the playing conditions are fair and conducive to showcasing the talent of the competitors. As the tournament progresses, players and fans alike hope to see improvements in the setup to reflect the true skill and competitiveness of the women in the sport.
