Pranavi – Golfer, A look at the future sporting superstars
Touted as the 'next-big-thing' in Indian golf, this teen sensation is making people sit up and take notice.
Features
Pranavi Urs, an upcoming golfer
Hita Prakash
Mysore: “Grip it and rip it!” seems to be the mantra of Pranavi Urs, a fearless youngster from the heritage city of Mysore. This golfing sensation has taken a leap towards the professional circuit; confident of enhancing her illustrious amateur career.
Pranavi Urs is creating such a significant impression on the golf course that finding space to showcase her trophies at home is becoming a challenge. Considered as a top contender in every event she competed since she was seven, this lanky 16-year-old has her goals set high and firm. She recently became the only player in the history of Indian golf to have back-to- back wins on the professional tour both as an amateur and a pro.
“I fell in love with the sport after watching my brother and father play. JWGC is unique as it is attached to the race course. It was love at first sight,” she said. Pranavi grew up playing at the scenic Jayachamaraja Wadeyar Golf Course (JWGC) with the glorious Chamundi Hills as the backdrop and calls it her second home. The tough playing conditions here helped her hone the skills required to tackle hurdles in a sport in which nature poses as the fiercest opponent for any player.
“I feel blessed to have so many people’s support and encouragement, especially in my hometown. Practising regularly alongside some of the best professional male golfers has sharpened my game,” she said. Under the guidance of her current coach, Malaysia-based Australian Steven Giuliano, Pranavi aims to be a playing member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) within two years besides setting her target at the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris.
The talented golfers’ casual approach during pressure situations has paid dividends so far. “The urge to win is on top of my mind all the time and I hate to fall short of it,” she said.
It is the year of board exams for Pranavi, a class 10 student of the National School of Open Schooling, as she wishes to ace it with the same vigour. She turned down offers from prestigious colleges across USA and also a $1,00,000 Golf Scholarship to the Albany Academy in Bahamas for a eleven-month period in order to focus on approaching the gruelling professional tour, staying in India.
As a true Rory Mcilroy fan, Pranavi is known for her monstrous drives off the tee and accurate putts from anywhere on the green and is capable of giving the best in the business a run for their money. Ranked number one in every age category in the country on the amateur tour, she is striving to reach the same level as a professional too. She finished as the best amateur in the 2017 Hero Women’s Indian Open, an elite tournament on the Ladies European Tour (LET). A regular member of the Indian team for various international tournaments since 2015; she won the Thailand Singha World Amateur Junior Golf Championship in 2018. “My golfing journey has been incredible so far. Constantly learning and working on my physical and mental fitness along with improving my game is what I look forward to everyday,” she said.
Supported by the Go Sports Foundation, this determined teenager is prepared to conquer the world of golf one step at a time.
