Record prize money, star-studded field in eves' Indian Open golf

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) With a record 100,000 dollar prize money dangled before a star-studded field, women's golf in the country takes a giant leap forward with the DLF Women's Indian Open, which gets underway at the DLF and County Club on March 14.

''Golfers from as many as 17 countries will tee off in the richest event ever in the history of women's golf in India, which will also be the fourth leg of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour,'' President of the Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI) Satish Tandon told reporters here today.

The formidable field boasts of names like American Libby Smith, currently ranked second on the LGAI Order of Merit, along with India's history-maker Smriti Mehra -- first Indian to qualify for the prestigious LPGA Tour -- and the ever-improving Irina Brar, who notched up a creditable 18th finish in her first overseas tournament in Hong Kong.

All eyes, however, would be on British Indian Kiran Matharu, hailed as the next Michelle Wei by Nick Faldo. The teen from Leeds, who visited the land of her origin last year, is the winner of the 2004 Faldo Series.

South African Yushira Budhram and American Tanya Wadhwa -- several age-group titles under her belt -- would also grab attention, said WGAI secretary Champika Sayal.

Ms Sayal also announced that the prize money would be doubld next year and the event would be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Korean LPGA.

The Indian contingent would also include Parnita Garewal, Shalini Malik and Nonita Lal Qureshi.

UNI