Getting to know Sharmila Nicollet, India's star golfer

"The harder you practice, the luckier you get," one of our great golfers believes. She's been lucky enough to make it to the world's best golf courses, and you'll never miss this slender image in passionate pinks and electric blues juxtaposed against the lush green. But India's most stylish golfer is hiding more in her Golf kit than you would have imagined. Did you know she won her first tournament when she was just 15, is a national level swimmer, and is eyeing car modelling? 

@SheThePeopleTV Discipline, dedication and determination. #EveryWomanIsALeader

— Sharmila Nicollet (@MissNicollet) June 9, 2015

This Indo-French Professional Golfer eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes golf and fashion in equal parts, and brings her A-Game in both to the course each time. Born in and raised in Bangalore, Nicollet gravitated towards golf in 2002 when she was 11 years old - while her family had nothing to do with the sport. Her father Marc Nicollet is a software professional, and her mother Surekha Nicollet is a femme-de-fumes, and has her own line of fragrances Padmini Aroma Ltd.

Winning her first tournament at 15, and went on a streak almost - represented India at the Asian Games at Doha 2006 and in Asia Pacific Junior Golf Tournament, played at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, the Queen Sirikit Cup at Japan, the Malaysian Open and other international tournaments. Nicollet has been the youngest lady golfer to win the All-India Ladies Amateur Championship in 2007–2008, along with seven Open Amateur Tournaments. She ended up chasing the dragon until she turned pro in 2009 when she was 18.

But she wanted more when it came to records. After turning pro, she made noise internationally by becoming the youngest Indian golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour. Come 2012, she set another precedent - becoming the second Indian to earn a full card on the Ladies European Tour.

Nicollet won the 2009–2010 Order of Merit on the Women's Golf Association of India, and then five further events to finish on top of the 2010– 2011 Order of Merit too. She sits on top of a tower of WGA conquests- a staggering 11 of them.

But off the course, she gets even more colorful. "I'm a Professional Golfer. Nice as pie but fixed in my ways. A teddy bear in disguise with a hard candy shell. I call a spade a spade it just is what it is. Got good intuition and intentions. I'm very competitive and aggressive in my game and this helps me win tournaments. Self dependent and a total shopaholic!" she writes about herself on her official website. 

And the woman wears many hats- believe it or not, she's also set her heart on mastering car modification, auto motor-sports, perfumery, fashion, photography, gadgets, animals and nature. 

@SheThePeopleTV My looks don't help me putt better! #EveryWomanIsALeader

— Sharmila Nicollet (@MissNicollet) June 9, 2015

But a hobby that came very close to unseating golf as her number one - is swimming. Take this beauty off the mainland and plonk her into water - and she transforms into a happy-flappy mermaid. She was a state level swimmer - with over 72 medals in state and national meets. She's almost an all-rounder, as she's gotten her hands dirty on basketballs and tennis rackets as well. 

Currently, she's eyeing the 2016 Olympics, and eventually - the throne reserved for the #1 lady golfer in the world.

Image Credits: Sharmilanicollet.com