India's leading female golfer Vani Kapoor went into the final day of the recently concluded Indian Open sitting at joint 2nd position with a shot at the title on her home course. While she couldn't manage to grab that opportunity on the last day and ended up at joint 6th in the final standings, the 23-year old was still satisfied with her performance.
"I am extremely happy. This is my first finish in top-10 on the ladies European Tour. It was also my home course and the whole home crowd was there to support me, so I was pretty nervous in the morning and was hoping everything goes right but I handled it well.I was mentally very calm and dealt with the pressure well considering that I was in contention for the title for the first time. So, I am very satisfied with my performance," Kapoor said.
The Delhi-based golfer had the momentum behind her going into the final day as she had scored four birdies on the penultimate day. But she couldn't replicate that form in the final round.
"The course was playing a bit tough on the final day. Also, I didn't hit as many birdies as I did in the two previous days. So, I guess I fell a bit short," Vani explained.
With the Indian Open over, the Delhi girl is now looking to end the season on a good note and then prepare for the next tournament.
"I had to do really well at the Indian Open to secure my European Tour Tour card. So that is done now. I still have two more events but I am close to making it. There are two more tournaments left in the year, the first being China Open and then there is one in Dubai. I want to have another couple of top-10 finishes if I can. After the completion of the season, I will be working on my game to get ready for the next season," the lady who turned pro in 2012 revealed.
On being asked which areas of her game she would like to improve, the former top-ranked amateur golfer of the country had this to say: "I am not a long hitter, if I become a long hitter, that would really help me because my accuracy is really good. So, I would be working more on my physical fitness during my off season. We guys don't actually get an off-season because we are travelling a lot. So, I am really looking forward to a break where I can really work on my game."
The 2015 female golfer of the year in the India golf awards also felt that she and other female golfers are some way away from getting the same attention as their male counterparts.
"The men golfers have been doing well for quite some time. There is someone or the other who has always been there like Anirban lahiri, SSP Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa or few others. But for Indian women's golf so far, it's been only Aditi (Ashok). She has been carrying the flag on her shoulders so far but I guess I am also coming into the picture," she explained.
Recently she secured the sponsorship of Mawana Sugars and sees that as a big help going forward in her career.
"Mawana has stepped in and I am really grateful for that because while travelling on the European tour, the costing comes up to a lot and they have been generous friends with their support. So, it's great to have them with me because it takes a lot of pressure off my back. Now, I just have to go there and stay and not really worry about my expenses," Vani concluded by saying.