Sharmila gets wildcard in European Tour tournament

New Delhi: Top Indian woman professional golfer Sharmila Nicollet has been given a wildcard entry into the prestigious Evian Masters, one of the leading events on the Ladies European Tour, starting on July 21.

"The experience of playing and practicing in Europe has been very good for me. And now the Evian Masters will give me a chance to play with the leading golfers," said Sharmila. 20-year-old Sharmila recently played the British Open qualifiers where she missed making the main tournament, and the Finnair Masters. The five-foot-10 Sharmila, leading money earner on the Women`s Indian WGAI Tour, was tied 23rd at the Hero Honda Women’s Indian Open in 2010 and has played most of her events on Ladies Asian Golf Tour.The Evian Masters board has given six other wild-card entries to the 2011 event. The other recipients so far are Cindy Lacrosse (USA), Mariajo Uribe (COL), Maria Verchenova (RUS), Caroline Rominger (SWI), Grace Park (KOR) and Lydia Ko (NZ). Sharmila is the seventh and three more will be announced soon. "For 2011, we`re keen as ever to shine the media spotlight on players from developing countries as well as on our very talented young generation of players," explained Jacques Bungert, Director of the Evian Masters. This year`s Evian Masters will have 111 of the best female players competing at the Evian Masters Golf Club course from July 21 to 24. The field will include current world number one Yani Tseng, a former Hero Honda Women`s Indian Open winner, besides 2010 world number one and defending champion Jiyai Shin. Also joining them are Cristie Kerr (USA), Ai Miyazato (JAP), Paula Creamer (USA), Michelle Wie (USA), young Alexis Thompson and fellow American Morgan Pressel. PTI