Delhi's Vani Kapoor, the current Hero Order of Merit leader, would be looking to end her title drought in the Hero Women's Progressional Golf tour as she prepares for the Rs.5 Lakh ninth leg commencing at the Eagleton Golf Resort on the outskirts of the city Wednesday.
The Delhi golfer, who stamped her authority on the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour 2014, suddenly saw a dip in her game, costing her the title in the last two tournaments though she took the winner's cheque at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) here by virtue of being the top professional.
With total earnings of Rs.8.6 lakh from eight starts, Vani is comfortably sitting atop the money list and is the firm favourite for the ninth leg in the absence of local sensation and Hero MotoCorp-sponsored Sharmila Nicollet, who is scheduled to play in the Ladies German Open July 17-20, and veteran Smriti Mehra.
Kolkata's Neha Tripathi, Chandigarh's Saaniya Sharma, Pune's Shweta Galande and Delhi's Ankita Tiwana are also among the 10 professionals who are top contenders for the winner's cheque.
Among the amateurs, Raksha Phadke, who won her maiden title at the KGA last week playing in a professional event, is giving the ninth leg a miss. The other amateurs who could spring a surprise would be local girl Anisha Padukone, and Delhi's Mehar Atwal and Millie Saroha.
The Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour 2014 comprises 15 legs spanning across key locations in India.