This is me…!

Blondes, they say, have more fun. But according to scientists at McGill University in Montreal, redheads have a definite edge when the going gets tough. The scientists have identified a gene in flame-haired women that makes them better at cooping with pain than blondes or brunettes.
Maybe my red hair and temper have helped me to get to where I am today? Maybe it’s the constant competition with my father and my brothers? Maybe it’s a combination of the two!

I grew up by the ocean in the outskirts of Göteborg, Sweden. I was raised in a family of six siblings – me being the second youngest. I always competed in all kinds of sports and my father and my two brothers constantly teased me and challenged me in ping-pong, tennis and badminton. Since I didn’t like to lose I had to practice twice as much and twice as hard – which has paid off. Still today when we have family gatherings, we sneak down to the basement and have ping-pong tournaments as soon as we get a chance…

Quite appropriately, the name of our street is Golfbanevägen, which means Golf Course Street in English. The clubhouse is literally just around the corner and I grew up running and playing around the course. The year I turned thirteen, I discovered my true passion for golf and spent more and more time playing and practicing. Before I knew it I had the lowest handicap in my family and soon I was a scratch player. The summer I turned fourteen I reached the level of the National Team and I went on my first trip abroad, representing Sweden in Finland. I have been on the national team ever since and played many European Championships and a World Championship.

When I was seventeen I spent a year as an exchange student in Scottsdale, Arizona, where I learned a lot and practiced countless of hours with my coach. We worked hours and hours around the practice areas and I had so much fun learning new stuff while getting better and better. This is when I took my game to a whole new level.

Between 1999 and 2003 I represented University of Southern California, USC – “Fight On“. I was proud to finish my college career with a degree in Economics and as the NCAA individual and team Champion. I was also the only Swedish player other than Annika Sörenstam to win the Honda Sports Award, an annual award given to the best collegiate female athlete. My senior season was the greatest individual performance in USC golf history.
Now that I have turned professional, my aim is to become the number one female golfer in the world. I know this is not a modest goal and I know that it will require my full dedication, passion, commitment and practice, practice, practice and even more practice…

After playing 6 years on the LPGA tour I feel very confident that I will reach my goal – it’s just a matter of patience and hard work. I have both those qualities so now its merely a matter of time before I will be in contention for the top spot.

Mikaela Parmlid