Vani Kapoor’s biggest lesson is mental, not technical, ahead of Indian Women’s Open

NEW DELHI: For Vani Kapoor, the biggest change in her golf has not necessarily been technical. It has been learning to deal with herself on the course. Once driven heavily by results and hard on herself whenever she failed to win, the Indian golfer now believes in staying in the present, accepting mistakes and enjoying the process.The change, she explained, has come through small mental adjustments rather than a dramatic overhaul of her game.Ahead of the Indian Women’s Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club from Oct 22 to 25, she said, “I enjoy making mistakes. I learn from them. And the same way, I give myself credit when I play well. Previously, I wouldn't do that. These small mental habits have really helped me.”Vani believes that working consistently on her game and trusting the process have begun to reflect in her performances. With confidence growing, her focus is on maintaining that balance instead of becoming consumed by the prospect of winning.That approach will be tested at the Indian Women’s Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club, a venue she describes as the toughest course she has encountered across her playing experiences in Asia, Europe and the United States.“Over here, you need to be so accurate. You need to know where to make your mistakes. On other golf courses, you don't really think that way. You can't be so precise with your mistakes either, but this course really punishes you,” Vani said.She added, “The challenge extends beyond technical ability. Players must remain mentally composed through rounds that can last five to six hours, maintaining concentration across all 72 holes. On a course where errors can quickly prove costly, the ability to manage pressure could be as decisive as the quality of a player's ball-striking.”For Indian golfers, familiarity with the venue could offer an advantage against an international field featuring some of the world's leading players. Vani, however, cautioned that knowing the course does not automatically translate into success.She also believes the growing number of top-five and top-10 finishes by Indian women over the past five to 10 years reflects the improvement in the country's golf standards. Yet, the absence of an Indian winner at the tournament remains a significant talking point.“We Indians have had so many top-five and top-10 finishes in the last five to 10 years. The game has really improved. But the person who wins a trophy needs that luck. All 72 holes need to go according to them. Seventy-one holes are not enough,” she said.“Finishing second or third, the player is as good as the winner. But ultimately, there's only one person who takes the trophy. I really hope that an Indian wins it, and I hope even more that I win it,” she said.For Vani, the prospect of winning at home brings pressure, but she views it as something to embrace rather than resist. She credits the people around her for helping her remain calm and believes accepting the emotions that come with competition is essential to performing at her best.Winning this tournament remains the ultimate goal, but she is determined not to let that ambition dictate every moment of her tournament. Her priority is to focus on what she can control, trust the preparation and allow the result to follow.For a golfer who has spent years learning to be less consumed by the outcome, the challenge at DLF will be to combine that mental freedom with the precision the course demands. The trophy is the dream; staying present, she believes, is the way to give herself the best chance of lifting it.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.