Hero Women’s India Open: Liz Young Claims Victory on a Challenging Course

The Ladies European Tour brought an exciting event to New Delhi this past weekend for the Hero Women’s India Open. The prestigious DLF Golf and Country Club, renowned as one of the best golf courses in India, posed a formidable challenge to players competing for the title. By the tournament's end on Sunday, only five players managed to finish with under-par scores, reflecting the course's difficulty.

England’s Liz Young emerged as the winner with a score of 2-under-par, securing a one-shot lead over her nearest competitors. Going into the final day, Young was trailing fellow Englishwoman Alice Hewson and Belgium’s Manon de Roey. However, a composed final round of 72 helped her edge ahead, with de Roey carding a 74 to finish one shot behind, while Hewson slipped back to 11th place after a difficult day and a triple bogey on the par-5 18th hole.

Young, a seasoned golfer who turned professional in 2009 after representing Great Britain as an amateur, celebrated her second Ladies European Tour win. Her first victory came in 2022 at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, where she overcame Linn Grant. The Hero Women’s India Open victory elevates her to 12th place in the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit standings, underscoring her skill and consistency.

Reflecting on her triumph, Young expressed the personal significance of this win, as it aligned with her family’s birthday celebrations:

“It’s my second win, but it’s still as important as any other. Wins don’t come easily in professional golf. Manon is a great friend, and we were battling all day. The key was my putting—my caddie and I read the greens perfectly. It was my birthday last week, and it’s my daughter’s next week, so this is a wonderful celebration.”

The 2024 Genesis Championship: Byeong Hun An Outlasts Tom Kim in Dramatic Playoff

Across the globe, the DP World Tour’s 2024 Genesis Championship took place at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, delivering an exhilarating showdown between South Korean stars Byeong Hun An and Tom Kim. In a thrilling all-Korean duel, An clinched victory, marking his second DP World Tour win.

Starting the final round as joint leaders, both An and Kim showcased exceptional skill and determination. Kim’s final round featured a solid back nine with two birdies and seven pars, keeping him at 5-under-par for the day and echoing the confidence he displayed at the recent Presidents Cup. Meanwhile, An showed equal resolve, with six birdies on his scorecard to reach 17-under-par despite a bogey on the 17th, which momentarily placed him one stroke behind Kim.

The defining moment of An's round came on the par-5 15th hole, where he hit an impressive 290-yard drive off the deck, landing his ball within six feet of the hole for a two-putt birdie. With the match tied, the two went into a nail-biting playoff, replaying the 18th hole. Both players took bold approach shots, but Kim’s third shot found the main stand, leading him to card a bogey. An, reaching the green in three, only needed one putt to seal the victory.

The crowd erupted as An sank his winning putt, celebrating his first tour win since the 2015 BMW PGA Championship. Praising Kim’s resilience, An expressed his joy at clinching the title:

“There were so many fans out there supporting both of us, and it felt like a real battle. I just got a bit lucky today, but it’s amazing to be the winner.”

These tournaments highlight the grit and skill of professional golfers as they take on some of the world’s toughest courses, delivering incredible moments for fans and furthering the global excitement around golf.