KIRAN MATHARU

Thought golf was a man’s sport? Think again. Kiran Matharu started playing golf at her local driving range in Leeds at the age of 11. A year later, she was playing off a handicap of her age (12). Today, aged 18, she’s bagged the accolade of Female Junior Sports Personality of the Year at the Sony Entertainment Television Sports Personality of the Year awards for British Asians two years on the trot and is the youngest woman to win the English Ladies’ Championship.

Last year Matharu won the 2007 Volvo Cross Country Challenge in her first season as a professional on the European Tour. Even Nick Faldo is a fan: “She’ll be right up there with the best in the world.”

Even at Kiran's tender age, her whole golfing career has been a successful one but in 2006 alone she has cleaned up with award upon award. In February 2006, Kiran was named Junior Female Sports Personality of the Year at the Sony Sports Personality of the Year Awards and has recently snatched the title of 2006 English Ladies Close Amateur Champion, with a 5/4 win at West Lancashire Golf Club.

Kiran has an amazing golf handicap of + 3.4 which is the lowest female classification in Great Britain, putting her at number one on the UK golfing circuit and holds a rank of number two in the world, in the under 19's category. 2005 saw her collecting numerous honours again, including the European Girls Winner 2005 as well as holding onto The Nick Faldo National Series Champion, which she has kept for two years running. Kiran also has the required golfing skills to be a member of Team Faldo, set up in 2002 by Nick Faldo to nurture the next generation of golfing champions for Europe, which Kiran truly is.

With all this under her cap, Kiran remains a typical teenager, shy, pretty and awkward, except to when it comes to holding a golf club. She trains with her coach six times a week and jogs every morning to maintain her stamina.

She follows in her father's ambitious sporting footsteps, Amarjit Matharu, who turned to cricket after finding it a struggle to be accepted into the golfing faturity due to the colour of his skin. But this by no means put him off introducing his daughter to the sport. Kiran's introduction to golf at 11 years old, impressed Neil Harvey, a local professional, so much with her natural swing, that he insisted she take serious lessons and could play for Yorkshire within six months.

Her first lessons were with Mark Pinkett before progressing even further with Peter Tupling. By 14 Kiran was playing off scratch. Her swing is a thing of artistic beauty, with a relaxed yet powerful drive. Amarjit is also a member of the Cookridge Hall Golf Club and can often be seen with Kiran in the practice nets. Her father has constantly remained the driving force behind 'Team Matharu' and will ensure she turns professional.

KIRAN MATHARU AT A GLANCE

• Golf Club Cookridge Hall
• Country England
• Date of Birth 27th February 1989
• Residence Chapel Allerton, Leeds
• Honours 2006 GB&I Curtis Cup squad member
• 2006 Faldo Series International Trophy girls' runner-up
• 2005 Faldo Series girls champion
• 2005 Welsh Ladies Stroke-play Championship runner-up
• 2004 Faldo Series girls champion

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