Tiger’s niece, the cynosure of all eyes

Tthe 25-year old Cheyenne Nicole Woods dominated the proceedings at the DLF Golf & Country Club but made it clear she was looking to establish her credentials beyond her famous link.

Cheyenne Nicole Woods has just one win on the Ladies European Tour and is yet to win a professional title on the LPGA Tour, but with a famous surname, she was the special one nevertheless at the pre-event media interaction of the Hero women’s Indian Open golf tournament here on Wednesday.

Not surprisingly, the 25-year old niece of Tiger Woods dominated the proceedings at the DLF Golf & Country Club, the venue, but made it clear she was looking to establish her credentials beyond her famous link.

“It’s definitely a perk for me and I have been watching him (Tiger) since I was five years old so it is very motivating and pushes me a lot.

“That said, media pressure is something I have got used to and out there on the course it is just me and my caddy, and none of the attention matters then,” said Cheyenne, who turned pro only in 2012.

Having spoken to Tiger before coming to India on her maiden visit, Cheyenne said he had only positive things to say about the country and the course here, and hoped to experience the same herself.

While the spotlight may firmly be on Cheyenne, it wouldn’t be as easy on the course, though. Defending champion Gwladys Nocera of France has been in good form coming into the tournament while Briton Melissa Reid, currently fourth on the LET Order of Merit (OOM), would also be looking to make a mark on her first visit here.

“I have been coming to India since the event started in 2007 so I am used to the place. The course, however, is a completely new one and very different from what we saw in 2012. There are some tricky holes and I hope to do my best,” Gwladys said.

17th, the toughest

The talking point of the course was the 17th hole which unanimously got voted as the most challenging one. The 346-yard hole is strategic and intimidating, including a steep uphill par-4. One golfer who was not worried about it was Vani Kapoor, for whom this is the home course.

“The course is tight and though it may look open, the fairways are really narrow. Of course, I will have the home advantage and I hope to make it count. I have played quite a few times here and I can say being aggressive on the hole and some of the others would be dangerous, you have to play smart,” said Vani, currently leading the Hero OOM.