Hero Women's Indian Open 2024: England's Liz Young Lifts Trophy on her birthday, amateur Mannat Brar emerges Top Indian

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Gurugram, Oct 27: England's Liz Young celebrated her second Ladies European Tour (LET) title in style, clinching the $400,000 Hero Women's Indian Open by one stroke at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Sunday (October 27). Young shot a steady final-round 72 to total 2-under 286, narrowly edging out a group of four players tied for second.

Young's victory extended her remarkable streak of never missing the cut in her nine appearances at the tournament, a consistency that culminated in her long-awaited win this year.

Meanwhile, India's 17-year-old amateur sensation Mannat Brar showcased her potential by finishing tied for 11th with a total of 4-over 292. This impressive performance earned her the dual honour of being the top amateur and best Indian performer at the event.

Mannat Brar Shines Bright for India

Mannat's round-by-round scores of 76, 75, 71, and 70 reflected steady improvement throughout the week. Reflecting on her performance, she said, "I wasn't at my best with the irons initially, but my short game saved me. In the last two days, I found my rhythm with the irons and read the greens well, which helped me finish strong."

The young talent expressed pride in her journey, stating, "I've had a strong amateur career so far, representing India internationally. This event has been a special highlight for me, and I am grateful to be in this position."

Among the Indian professionals, Pranavi Urs and Hitaashee Bakshi finished tied for 15th at 6-over 294, while Tvesa Malik was tied 26th at 9-over 297. Ridhima Dilawari and Vani Kapoor shared 31st place with a total of 10-over 298.

Young Holds Nerve Amid Tight Finish

Liz Young's victory at the Hero Women's Indian Open marked a significant milestone in her career. The 42-year-old from Southampton, who turned professional in 2009, had waited 13 years for her first LET title, which came at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open. This triumph in Gurugram was her second title, achieved in her 248th tour start.

"I think it'll take a couple of days for this to sink in," said a delighted Young. "It was a close battle all day with Manon (De Roey), who is a good friend. I made a key birdie on the 15th, and from there, it was anyone's game."

At the 18th tee, Young held a slim one-shot lead over Belgium's Manon De Roey. A tense moment followed when Young's approach shot found the water, resulting in a bogey. However, De Roey also faltered, missing a crucial par putt that would have forced a playoff.

De Roey's back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th saw her drop into a four-way tie for second place at 1-under 287, alongside Singapore's Shannon Tan, France's Agathe Sauzon, and New Zealand's Momoka Kobori.

Alice Hewson, another contender from England, faded out of contention with a triple-bogey on the final hole, falling outside the top 10.

A Fitting Victory for Young

Young reflected on her mindset after finding the water on the final hole. "It was a good shot, but unfortunately it went in. The putt I made afterward reminded me of my win in Switzerland, and I just focused on that," she said.

The demanding conditions at the DLF Golf and Country Club tested every player's mental and physical endurance. "It's been a tough week with the heat and humidity, and every shot required full focus. I've always enjoyed playing here, and this course suits my game well. It feels amazing that everything finally came together this year," Young added.

Delacour's Flawless Round Stands Out

Frenchwoman Perrine Delacour shot the only bogey-free round of the day, a brilliant 5-under 67 featuring three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th. Her exceptional performance helped her finish in a tie for sixth place.

In total, there were 15 sub-par rounds on Sunday, the most across all four days at the challenging DLF course, highlighting the level of competition.

With this victory, Young joins the ranks of British winners at the Hero Women's Indian Open, alongside legends like Dame Laura Davies (2010) and Becky Morgan (2018). As Young savours this hard-earned win, she looks forward to celebrating with her family, especially with her daughter's birthday coming up in two weeks.

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, presented Young with the winner's cheque of $60,000, capping off an exhilarating week of golf in Gurugram.