When the Skies Weep: Tvesa Malik Navigates a Soggy Taipei Course, Hopes Hanging by a Thread

Ah, golf. A game of precision, patience, and, well, often at the mercy of Mother Nature; and honestly, for those teeing off at the CTBC Ladies Open in Taipei, Mother Nature seemed particularly… moody on Thursday. The opening round, brimming with the usual pre-tournament buzz, was abruptly cut short, drowned out, if you will, by a relentless downpour. Play was suspended; the greens, for once, resembled shimmering ponds more than pristine putting surfaces.

Amidst this watery chaos, India’s very own Tvesa Malik, a name golf aficionados might recognise, managed to hold her own, carding an even-par 72. Quite the feat, really, considering the conditions. She had completed all eighteen holes, navigating the increasingly soggy course with a steely resolve that, you could say, speaks volumes about a golfer’s mental game. When the hooter finally blew, halting play for good, Tvesa found herself comfortably — or perhaps uncomfortably, given the uncertainty — tied for 16th place.

But hers wasn’t the only story unfolding, not by a long shot. Other Indian talents were also out there, battling the elements. Diksha Dagar, for instance, was three-over through thirteen holes when the call came, while Ridhima Dilawari found herself five-over after the same number of holes. It wasn’t an easy day for anyone, certainly not for those trying to gain an early advantage. And then there was local amateur Hsin Chun Yeh, a name now echoing with a certain promise, who, despite everything, was leading the pack at three-under through ten holes, proving that some manage to thrive even when the world around them is literally washing out.

So, what now? The waiting game, it seems. Golf, for all its structure and tradition, often devolves into this: a test of patience, a hope that the skies will clear, and the fairways will once again welcome the swing. It’s a reminder, I suppose, that sometimes the most formidable opponent isn't another player, but simply the unpredictable, beautiful, and utterly frustrating world around us. And that, in truth, is part of its charm, isn't it?