How Vani Kapoor rediscovered her authentic golf self and reclaimed the joy of playing

Vani Kapoor’s golf career started in Delhi with something as simple as wanting to spend more time with her father on Sunday afternoons. “We didn’t think it would become a profession or anything,” she said.

What began as a fun activity has now led to her becoming the most successful player in Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour (HWPGT) history, with a record 35 titles.

Runaway leader

Vani is on a high, having won the eighth leg of the HWPGT at the Bengaluru Golf Club (BGC) last week. “This is probably the best start I have had to the year in my entire career,” she said, in reference to claiming four of the eight legs. The 31-year-old is the runaway leader on the HWPGT Order of Merit, with total winnings of ₹11,88,000.

The path to this latest title was not easy. She was trailing early in the third round, but key moments — a birdie on the ninth and a hot streak of birdies on holes 12 through 15 — put her back in the lead. “I just kept rolling, and by the time I reached the final two holes, I knew I had a cushion. I just needed to finish the job.”

Vani turned professional in 2012 at just 18 years old and quickly became a dominant force on the Indian domestic circuit. Her debut season brought three victories, a sign of things to come. Since then, she’s steadily built a stellar record.

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In 2019, she became the first Indian woman to earn a card on the Australian Ladies PGA Tour. That milestone opened doors to the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the prestigious Vic Open. She continued to rise and, in 2022, posted a career-best tied-third finish at the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands, ending five under par overall.

In the 2025 season of the HWPGT, Vani opened with runner-up finishes in the second and third legs, followed by a dominant three-win streak in the fourth, fifth, and sixth legs. Ahead of her latest win, there was pressure, no doubt. But Vani remained unfazed.

“Everyone here is a good golfer, and anyone can have a great day. Whatever my result, it’s a by-product of my own effort, and that’s the only thing I can possibly control,” said Vani.

That kind of composure doesn’t come out of nowhere. Vani identifies working with a sports psychologist, which she began doing seven years ago, as a turning point. “A few things were bothering me, so I got that out of the way and got more clarity,” she said.

Taking stock

Vani called her performance in 2024 average — an honest self-assessment for someone used to being at the top. She plied her trade primarily on the LET, where she managed only one top-ten finish. Vani competed in three HWPGT events and won once.

“Something had to change. I took some time off and worked on myself from all angles,” she said.

Vani attributes her 2024 season to internal pressure and expectations. “I tried very hard to do things the right way while keeping certain people in mind. What really changed was that I gave myself an opportunity to just play for myself, without any expectations internally or from other people, and just go back to basics. It’s nice that everything is coming together now. I have started enjoying the game so much more, which I feel is the most important thing,” she said.

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Vani sees her long and short games as strengths, but her putting is her biggest asset. While she might not be the longest driver on the tour, her consistency off the tee and sharp play inside 100 yards makes her a regular on the leaderboard. “I’m not one of the longest hitters, but I’m very accurate. So, I don’t really have to worry that much off the tee. I’ve worked more on my short game, 100 yards in, to compensate. Putting has always been a strong point that I’ve had,” she said.

Off the course, Vani focuses equally on training both body and mind. Her approach blends mental clarity with a practice routine that’s tailored to her needs. “You have to love the way you practise. It has to be your way — not someone else’s version of what’s right,” she said.

Her fitness regimen includes strength training to prevent injury and maintain swing-speed. This isn’t just about being physically strong; it’s about endurance.

“And then there’s the gym, of course. You must work on strength. We swing at such fast speeds — you have to always be consistent and injury-free. We also need stability,” Vani said.

Tournament days can stretch long, and one loose shot late in the round can cost a title. Vani explained that staying in good physical shape helps train her mind to stay focused on the course.

Vani’s mindset was tested when she returned to the BGC, a course that she hadn’t played in for six or seven years. “I didn’t remember anything,” she said with a laugh. “I was going on the wrong tee boxes and wrong greens during the practice round. I told my caddy, ‘Just get me to the right tee and the right green — I’ll handle the rest’.”

Olympic ambition

Now over a decade into her professional career, Vani is still charting new territory. Vani has her sights set on a good show at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which will be held at her home course of DLF Golf and Country Club later this year.

Asked about her long-term goals, Vani stated that she would like to win a medal at the 2028 Olympics.

She sees the sport’s future in India with cautious optimism. “Coaching has changed so much from when I started. The new lot — these teenagers — have so much more access to information and technology. I did not have this when I was young. So there’s definitely going to be so many girls who are going to not just play, but do well abroad.”

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Despite everything the tour demands — travel, training, and competition — education was always non-negotiable in her family.

“My parents made it very clear — education came first. So I did my college, and after that I decided that I didn’t want to study. But I did the basic minimum, which is very important. I didn’t want to believe my parents at the time, but now I see how important it was. There’s so much more to life besides what you do. How you develop as an individual is so much more important — friends, a social life, confidence. When golf isn’t going well, you need people to lift you up and you need that circle.”

She has also become more vocal about the need for structural support. “The sport needs more visibility — especially women’s golf. It’s not just about us players. Our sponsors need visibility too.”

As the season progresses, she continues to move with quiet confidence. Not one to be rushed, Vani believes the best way forward is one shot at a time.