What a turn of events! Shannon Tan, after an impressive final day at the 2025 Hero Women’s Indian Open, initially believed she’d fallen short, facing a second consecutive runner-up finish. Yet, in a truly dramatic twist, she found herself walking back to the 18th green—not for second place, but to hoist the winner’s trophy! The climactic moments saw leader Alice Hewson double-bogey her final putt, unexpectedly ceding the championship.
This incredible win propelled Singapore’s Tan to the coveted top spot on the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit, a significant leap forward in her career. Meanwhile, Mimi Rhodes, who had been holding second, unfortunately, slipped after a less-than-ideal tied-15th finish at the event.
Hewson, hailing from England, had played a nearly flawless round until that fateful final hole. Her double-bogey was a solitary misstep on an otherwise masterful day. India’s local favorite, Hitaashee Bakshi, saw her hopes for victory fade early. A challenging front nine, marked by four bogeys and a double bogey, dashed her chances of becoming an Indian champion.
Despite Bakshi’s individual struggle, the tournament proved remarkably successful for Indian golfers overall. For the first time ever, three Indian players secured spots in the top five, and an impressive six finished within the top ten, marking a historic achievement for the nation’s golf scene.
Hitaashee, who started the day with a commanding three-shot lead, seemed caught between an aggressive approach and overly cautious play. This indecision led to a four-over 40 on the front nine. The brief respite before the back nine helped her regain composure, but by then, Hewson had already established a firm, steady control over the leaderboard.
Throughout the week, Tan wisely remained within striking distance, focusing on her own game rather than pushing too hard. With just one bogey each until the 17th hole, she and Hewson battled closely. Tan skillfully closed the gap with four birdies to Hewson’s two on the back nine. Ultimately, victory hinged on that very last stroke, and despite needing only a four-foot putt for the win, Hewson faltered.
“I’m still quite in shock,” Tan confessed after her unexpected triumph. “When I was coming on the 18th, I knew I needed to make a birdie to force a play-off. And then, when I walked in to hand over the scoring, someone said, ‘You’re still in the race for this.’ So I came out and yeah, I think I’m still in shock right now.”
The final results are as follows:
281: Shannon Tan (Sin, 68-73-73-67)
282: Alice Hewson (Eng, 69-72-69-72)
283: Hitaashee Bakshi (70-67-70-76)
284: Pranavi Urs (72-67-73-72)
285: Kelsey Bennett (Aus, 71-71-72-71), Avani Prashanth (73-71-70-71)
286: Anna Foster (Irl, 75-75-67-69)
287: Leonie Harm (Ger, 74-71-71-71)
288: Lisa Pettersson (Swe, 71-69-74-74)