Hero Women's Indian Open 2026: Chiara Tamburlini Leads on Opening Day With 67; Pranavi Urs, Avani Prashanth Best-Placed Indians

Gurugram, Oct 22: Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini carded a five-under-par 67 to take the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Hero Women's Indian Open 2026 at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday (October 22). Defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore and Argentina's Magdalena Simmermacher were her closest challengers, one stroke behind on four-under-par 68.

India's Asian Games gold medallist Pranavi Urs and compatriot Avani Prashanth were the best-placed Indian golfers, carding two-under-par 70s to finish three shots off the lead in a tie for fifth.

The opening day of the 18th edition also highlighted the sporting bond between Pranavi and Tan, who shared the course during their morning round. The duo competed against each other at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where Pranavi won gold and Tan claimed bronze, but their friendship remained firmly intact.

Tamburlini sets the pace with a 67

Tamburlini, the 2024 Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit champion, produced a composed round to establish the early benchmark at the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club.

The Swiss golfer credited a solid performance with her irons and an effective putting display for her five-under-par score.

"I hit quite a few fairways and felt quite comfortable with my irons as well. I converted a lot of putts, and the putter was definitely what made it possible to go low," Tamburlini said.

Her round added to a growing collection of strong scores in India, where she has previously found it difficult to consistently match her standards.

Shannon Tan begins title defence in style

Tan, the 2025 LET Order of Merit champion, made an impressive start to her title defence with a flawless four-under-par 68. The 22-year-old Singaporean sits in a tie for second with Simmermacher, keeping herself firmly in contention for a second successive title in Gurugram.

Despite missing a few opportunities on the greens, Tan remained composed throughout her round and planned to work on her wedges after returning to the driving range.

Her performance also reflected the confidence she has carried into the tournament following a successful season on the LET.

Pranavi Urs battles through illness

Pranavi produced a two-under-par 70 despite dealing with a stomach bug, which made the demanding course even more difficult to navigate.

"The [ailment] is not good for this golf course considering how challenging it is. I just had to keep it all together and play, which I did very well," Pranavi said.

The Indian golfer also spoke warmly about her long-standing friendship with Tan, which dates back to their junior golfing days.

"Shannon said she wanted me to win if she didn't, and I was there for her first win (at the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open). Shannon was glad that she could be there for my first win as well," Pranavi said.

Their friendship stood out during the Asian Games, where the two competed for medals but continued to support each other off the course.

Avani Prashanth finds her rhythm

Avani Prashanth also carded a two-under-par 70 to join Pranavi among the leading Indian contenders.

The 20-year-old has endured a difficult season on the LET after an injury and a demanding run of tournaments aggravated problems involving her L3, L4 and L5 discs. The subsequent dip in form threatened her playing status for the 2027 season, but a late-season recovery has helped her move back into a safer position.

Avani was particularly pleased with her approach play on Thursday. "My approach game was the best it has ever been. To be able to attack some of these flags and hit it as close as I did is something I'm happy with," she said.

Simmermacher keeps her composure

Simmermacher's four-under-par 68 placed her alongside Tan in second, one shot behind Tamburlini.

The Argentine had to negotiate the course's hazards, including finding water with her third shot on the 18th. She managed to recover and save par, demonstrating the patience required to contend at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Simmermacher said she intended to focus on each shot rather than the leaderboard as she pursues a breakthrough on the LET.

Mixed fortunes for Indian golfers on Day 1

Tvesa Malik, another Hero MotoCorp brand ambassador, carded a one-under-par 71 to finish in a tie for ninth. Diksha Dagar had a more difficult day, returning a five-over-par 77 to sit in a tie for 62nd.

Sweden's Andrea Lignell was still on the 18th fairway when darkness halted play at 5:57 pm.

Round two of the Hero Women's Indian Open 2026 will begin at 6:40 am on Friday, with Tamburlini looking to protect her advantage and Tan, Simmermacher, Pranavi and Avani aiming to close the gap.

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