Shannon Tan is having a contemplative moment. Are you surprised, she's been asked, by how fast things are happening in your life? She pauses. Just as she might deliberately do over a golf shot.
"I don't even know how to feel, to be honest," she replies. "It's like, it happened, okay.... I'm quite like a mellow person." Welcome to Singapore's latest emerging talent, a fuss-free, softspoken, no-drama competitor. Her name has just been inscribed on a Ladies European Tour (LET) trophy; television is asking for interviews; autograph hunters are lining up; there's nearly $100,000 in her bank balance in her debut season and it's only February; but the shy Singaporean remains a modest study in 19-year-old cool.
It's fitting Tan is calm because no one else is and her pinging phone is proof. "It's just going off," she says and offers a hint of a smile. Already over 200 messages and still counting. "I am still getting some and it's been four days."
Four days since history. Four days since her life changed on Feb 11 with a sweet swing of a club at the appropriately named Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Now it's Feb 15 and she's by the Red Sea at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International. Last week she was 12-under in Kenya and champion; this week she had a 77 and 72 and missed the cut at five over. This game tests, lurches, frustrates but she has the necessary ingredient to meet it.
Tranquility.
"The feedback I've got from other people is that I've just got no emotions." As a 14-,15-year-old, she wasn't as cool, but now she says "I think as I matured, I just move on and forget about the past".
But don't let this calm fool you, for behind the serenity rustles ambition. Peel back the placidity and you'll find a pressure-relishing, competition-craving athlete who uses a fake casino chip to mark her ball but has a game based on practicality, not gambling.
Esta historia es de la edición February 18, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 18, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
'Football died' when Klopp joined Red Bull
BERLIN - Jurgen Klopp's decision to join Red Bull as their Global Head of Soccer has sparked strong reactions from many German fans.
ALCARAZ IN 'CRAZY' LOSS TO MACHAC
Spaniard can’t believe opponent’s level after defeat scuppers rematch with Italian Sinner
New arrivals at FIA after high-profile departures
LONDON Formula One's governing body announced two senior appointments after headline departures triggered talk of an exodus from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) led by Emirati Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
OLYMPIC RINGS OF FIRE OVER EIFFEL TOWER
French minister plans to wrest control of landmark from Paris mayor amid logo row
EVEREST CLIMBS TO GROUP 1 HEIGHTS
World’s richest sprint race gains recognition at its eighth running, as well as All-Star Mile
Heat stress Different work conditions require flexible guidelines on workers' attire
We thank Mr Rahul Gupta for his suggestions (Study standard heat-friendly work clothes for outdoor workers, Oct 8).
Airbus deliveries drop as suppliers struggle
PARIS Airbus deliveries fell 9 per cent in September to 50 jets compared with the same month in 2023, the European planemaker said on Oct 9, rekindling a debate over the strength of its industrial goals as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand.
Mental health ambassadors at all PAP branches by 2025
By 2025, all 93 People's Action Party (PAP) branches will have mental health ambassadors to promote mental well-being in every neighbourhood and support the work of MPs in addressing residents' mental health concerns.
Zelensky says there is 'real chance' to end war in 2025
He did not reveal how this could happen but is counting on support from key allies
Prabowo defends plan to expand government with ‘fat' Cabinet
JAKARTA Indonesia's Presidentelect Prabowo Subianto has defended his plan to expand government agencies, saying it is needed for a strong administration even if critics call it a \"fat\" Cabinet that will bloat the bureaucracy.