Diksha Dagar demonstrated an unprecedented performance for an Indian female golfer in a major tournament, concluding her journey at the Women’s British Open tied for the 21st spot.

Diksha, a two-time champion on the Ladies European Tour (LET), showcased remarkable prowess during the second round’s back nine, securing her first-ever cut in a major just a couple of days earlier. She concluded the week with yet another impressive display on the back nine, rebounding from a 2-over score on the front to finish the back nine at 3-under, ultimately achieving a 1-under scorecard. Across four days, her rounds totaled 74-71-72-71, summing up to an even par 288.

In the case of Aditi, participating in her seventh Women’s Open, her performance saw a setback with consecutive rounds of 75, causing her to slide to a T-40 position. Although she stood at T-9 halfway through the tournament, her performance declined over the weekend. The victor of the event, Lilia Vu from the US, outshone the competition by a margin of six shots, claiming her second Major title this year. With rounds of 72-68-67-67, she attained a cumulative score of 14-under throughout the week. Notably, England’s Charley Hull, previously tied for the lead after 54 holes, faced difficulties with her putter and concluded with a score of 73.

Diksha’s performance, achieving a tied-21st placement, marked a significant milestone for an Indian woman in a major, surpassing Aditi’s tied-22nd accomplishment at the 2018 Women’s Open. In 1998, Smriti Mehra secured a tied-sixth position at the Women’s British Open, which was not then recognized as a major, whereas it earned major status only in 2001.

This was Diksha’s fourth appearance at the Women’s Open, and it marked her first successful cut after failing to do so in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Notably, her earnings of $84,162 from this event stood as her highest professional purse, propelling her back into the top-5 of the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa Del Sol rankings, where Aditi holds the third position.

While situated at a tied-35 position post the third round, Diksha encountered setbacks on the front nine with bogeys on the fourth and sixth holes, resulting in a 2-over performance. However, she rebounded on the back nine, achieving birdies on the 12th, 15th, and 17th holes, showcasing a resilient comeback.