She’s just 17 and already India’s top amateur woman golfer. She’s all set for the big times

AT first glance, Sharmila Nicolette looks like a tall, pretty young model. But watch her whack the golf ball 300 yards off the tee and you know she’s a lot more. Sharmila, India’s top amateur woman golfer, is all of 17 and can’t wait for a year to pass before she turns pro and the big time beckons.
Meanwhile, she is far from relaxing. First off, her board exams are not too far away, though doing it through the Open School system means less pressure. Then there’s a slew of tournaments coming up, and she will be travelling all summer from Scotland to San Diego, competing with the best golfers in the world. All very exciting for a teenager.
But most exciting was her recent golfing encounter with iconic golfer Laura Davies. “It was really thrilling playing with her, especially since she’s also a long hitter of the ball,” says Sharmila. Laura made public just how impressed she was with Sharmila’s game and predicted she would soon be encountering her on the professional tour abroad. “She’s so friendly with a great attitude,” marvels Sharmila.
Attitude is something Sharmila knows she will have to watch, especially with young international golfers like Michelle Wie facing criticism for bad attitude and tantrum throwing. Sharmila admits she had a temper when she started out. “I even broke a club when I was 11. But I went to a counsellor and that helped me a lot. Now I’m much more stable, calm and positive.” Which is also why Sharmila admires international golfer Annika Sorenstam. “I like both her game and her mental toughness,” she says.
Even though she’s shot to the top of Indian women’s golf so quickly, Sharmila admits she’s just a kid at heart who loves hip hop and house music, her Saturdays off, her room at home and her dogs, Trixie and Tiara. She loves Italian food but is aware that champions must watch their diet. “I also miss school — hanging out with my friends and the occasional late night. But you have to make sacrifices for your sport. Becoming a pro will be even more demanding.” She’s a compulsive shopaholic, she adds with a laugh, and adores buying clothes and belts. She’s evolved a distinctive style of her own on the course with her bright colours, fancy belts and long earrings, which go very well with her height and model-girl looks. If she ever faced criticism like Sania Mirza, how would she react? “I don’t know. You have to be strong. But I can’t imagine not playing in India. It’s my home,” she says.
Her golfing role model is no surprise: Tiger Woods. “His name spells golf. He’s handled pressure and criticism so well. I admire his mental toughness.” Her dream fourball would include Tiger, Annika and Adam Scott, who she thinks is very cute. “I was to play with Adam in Delhi recently but had to back out because I got the flu. That would have been such a great opportunity. That’s the great thing about golf. You travel a lot, meet interesting people and because you play against yourself, you ultimately become stronger and better. Golf can humble you. I know it’s changed me a lot.”