EXCLUSIVE: Avani Prashanth – Teenage Sensation and India’s Top Ranked Amateur Golfer

Avani Prashanth is a budding Indian golfer who is taking the world by storm with her scintillating talent. At just 15 years of age, she has achieved some incredible milestones in her career already. Avani became the first Indian female golfer to be invited to play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship and is India’s top ranked amateur golfer.

Avani is well-known for the incredible driving distance that she manages to cover. She is already driving the ball around 270 yards, which is astounding at the age of just 15. Recently, the Bengaluru-based sensation sat down for an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports and opened up about the excitement for playing at the Augusta National and her future plans. 

Here are the excerpts from the interview: 

How does it feel to be the first Indian female golfer to receive an invitation to the Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship? 

It feels great. Firstly, because the invitation came by complete surprise. The tournament director, he emailed my dad, saying that you know we want to talk to you. And like we never thought of it that I’d get the invite because I’d only played one tournament so far that would get me invited to the tournament.

So then after that, the tournament director he called my dad, and then after that, my dad also joined me into that call. Then he gave me the good news that I’m getting to play at this event. So it definitely feels great. And also because in the Augusta National Golf Club, women golfers, like, professional golfers, don’t have tournaments there. So to be playing it as an amateur, it’s very special.

What was the reaction of your family and friends? 

My parents were obviously very excited, and so was I. My friends were also very, very happy for me and my coach was also very excited. He’s a huge Masters fan. So he was also very excited that I’m finally going to go to that venue and play. So just so everyone around me was very excited.

The entire field will be playing on Friday at the Augusta National Club, the same course where the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have played and won. So, what is your aim going into the competition? 

I did have a very good 2021 season. So we’ve already like picked out a couple of things to work on. I know my game is good enough that if I’m playing the way that I do, then I definitely have a very good chance of winning the tournament. And if those like particular areas that I’ve picked to work on and they work out, then I know I can win the tournament.

What is your goal after the Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship?

After that, I want to break into like the top 75 in the world rankings, and then I also have the Asian Games this year. So I want to win a gold for India at the Asian games. And then in the 2024 Olympics, also I want to win a gold. And then just those are my and then also become World number one.

At what age did you realize that you wanted to pursue golf as a career? 

So I started playing like tournaments and maybe six or seven. That’s when I started winning quite a few, and that pushed me to keep working hard. And the whole experience of winning a tournament made me just work harder and harder and harder, harder. That also gave me more interest in the game. So then I think around seven or eight after I won a lot of tournaments, I was like; you know what, I really love the sport. So I definitely want to take it up.

How did you get into golf?

We were living in Gurgaon at the time and my dad wanted to take my grandpa to learn about the sport. So then I always like loved playing any sort of sport and I was always like a very active child. And always also love spending time with my dad. So then I was like jumping all around him when he told like my granddad that, you know, I want to take you to the golf course.

Obviously, my dad was ignoring me because, who’d want to take a three-year-old to a golf course? So, then after that, my granddad was like, just wait, she’s trying to send you a sign, you know? Listen to her.

So my dad took me to the golf course, and he put a junior club in my hand. And then after that, he watched me hit for a bit, and it actually looked like I’ve been swinging that club forever. So, then after that, he just saw how good my hand-eye coordination was at three. So then we asked this coach, Mr. Nathansundaram, to come and take a look at me and also teach me one little thing. But Nathan sir was like, very reluctant to do that, because, well, I was just three years old.

So then my dad kind of persuaded him when he told him that, you know, that just come and teach her one little thing, and we’ll see after that, and he did. Then my dad and he went around the course, then three, four hours later, I was still on the range, hitting balls. And this convinced both of them that I was like born to play the sport.

Who have been your coaches throughout?

I started with Nathan, sir. And then after that, we moved to Nigeria. So over there, I was under a coach named Mr. Jacob. Then we came back to India, and then I was under Rahim sir. His name is Mr. Abdul Rahim, JH. So was under him for a bit, about four years, and then in 2018, I changed to Lawrence Brotheridge, who I am still with. 

Who do you credit for your success?

It’s a whole team effort. From the beginning I’ve had Nathan sir as my coach since I was three-years-old. He started the fire, you could say. Rahim sir was a big part of my journey from 2014 to 2018 and definitely, Lawrence sir has been a huge help from 2018 onwards. Even though it’s been online right now, he’s always been very helpful, always help me keep my swing in check. He’s always there to answer my doubts. 

My parents have been very supportive. My dad’s always thinking in front and always ready to give me the best inputs. He’s always been a big support, so it’s definitely a mix of everything. 

Which is the most special victory in your career so far?

It would be the All India ladies’ amateur. Because that was after eight rounds of tournament golf, I won the tournament. So I think that would be the most special one. And then the three wins, straight from the All India Strokeplay, the All India ladies amateur, and also the junior amateur. Those three together will be like the most special wins. But the most special one will be the All India ladies amateur.

What equipment do you currently use?

So I’m using Titleist T200 irons, Cleveland wedges, a Scotty Cameron putter, Callaway woods, and a Callaway driver.

If you could, which one company would you pick to sponsor you? 

Titleist. 

Your driving average is 270 yards off the tee at the age of 15. While Nelly Korda has an average driving average of 275 yards. So how do you feel about it?

I mean, I feel great, and all of this work kind of goes towards like the 2020 lockdown. That’s when I did most of this distance gaining work. From 2020 to 2022, I’ve gained about 35 to 40 yards of distance, so most of my work that was put in, was put in the lockdown, so even the lockdown did have very good parts. And yeah, I definitely say that I picked up a lot of swing speed then because my dad keeps all the stats it’s always pushed me to work harder. Because then I compare myself against like the best in the world.

What’s the strongest part of your game?

My driving distance definitely and then my bunker play is very, very good. Like I prefer staying in a bunker rather than being up chipping from outside because, yes, I’m very good with my bunker. And then I’d say my inside 100 yards wedge play is also very good and I’m also currently working on my putting. So even though it is quite good, I just needed to get that much better, then that kind of improves my whole overall game, and I can shoot better scores.

How do you keep yourself calm and stay mentally focused?

So I have, like, a whole process that I follow that never changes, regardless of how I play. So I keep following that process throughout, and that helps me, stay focused throughout the round. I’ve seen myself follow that before every single shot in every single round. So that process would be eating something like before a shot or eating something after a bad shot. And in general, I just keep being like, shot by shot and following my process, and not trying to think too much in front. And that just helps me keep my focus all the time.

How do you work on her mental game as well?

Oh, yeah, I do. So I do like visualization. This is part of my pre-shot routine that I take a couple of deep breaths before a shot and even after a bad shot. So that’s like, that’s mainly what I do.

Representing India at the Olympics will undoubtedly be on your bucket list. Do you think Aditi Ashok’s performance in Tokyo Olympics last year made you believe in that dream a little bit more?

Yes, definitely did. She played really well but was a bit unlucky, but as I say, ever since I was maybe eight or nine and you know, I actually started playing very well. It’s always been my dream to go and play in the Olympics. And back then, like golf wasn’t even in the Olympics back then. But definitely, Aditi’s performance did inspire me a lot more to go and win the gold.

What does a normal day in your life look like?

Right now, I have exams going on, but when I don’t have any exams, I wake up around 6:30. And then I go for practice to KGA at seven and from seven to maybe 11:30, I’ll be there. Those are the days of practice. And when I go on the course, I’ll go practice to two and a half hours and then go on the course and do everything and then come back home at like three o’clock, if I go on the course otherwise 12:35 practicing. Then, I go to the gym at six o’clock. So six to 730 is when I work out. And then I come back home and then if I’ve got some schoolwork, I finish up schoolwork. Otherwise, I just like to have dinner and then sleep.

How was the lockdown been beneficial for you?

There was a bit of frustration that tournaments aren’t there. But definitely, it was a boon because I could practice a lot, and I improved a lot of parts of my game, and my driving distance also went up crazy amounts. For example, my swing speed went from, I think 90, or 89 to 97 in like six months. So that’s like eight miles, so definitely was helpful. I have a whole setup at home as well. So I really wasn’t missing out on anything, I got to play every day.

So it was helpful. But at the same time was a bit frustrating, waiting so long just to play a tournament. But then after, as the tournament started, my game really got much, much better. And the whole credit would go to lockdown.

Which is your favorite Indian golf course?

I love the DLF golf club, that would definitely be my favorite course. But otherwise, scoring-wise, I love Panchkula. It’s where I shot six under and set the course record. But if I were to choose a course, it will definitely be DLF.

If you had to pick two of your favorite golfers – a male and a female?

Right now, I’d say that the best golfer and my favorite one would be Nelly [Korda]. Because the way she plays is the exact way that I like to play. You know, she’s aggressive but smart. And in males, it will definitely be Tiger Woods. 

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