Tiger Woods inspired Prashan to take up golf teenage is a stage where many youngsters tend to follow the ongoing trends. But in the case of Prashan Peiris who is just counting his fingers to become thirteen this year the story is quite different. At an era where cricketers, singers and film stars are considered as idols in Sri Lanka, Prashan has been inspired to take up a different sport many youngsters would not think of.

At 13, Prashan is a talented golfer with playing experience of over six years and is currently an active competitor in the local golf circuit. He has played at well over 50 tournaments from the day he could swing a club and has won many junior championships. Many in the game consider him as a potential pro golfer in Sri Lanka.

His extraordinary swing helps him to achieve early dominance at any golf course. In addition Prashan is a rare left-hander. He is among the 38 other left-handers who recently formed an association affiliated to the governing body of golf in the world. At present Prashan takes part at senior or men's open tournaments and found he was one of the main contenders at competitions among much older opponents.

"I have seen my father (Prashantha) and uncle (Amal) play golf but it was Tiger Woods who inspired me to take up the sport. I was just six-years-old by then and with commitment and hard practice I was able to master the sport up to this level," the youngster said.

Prashan attends S. Thomas' Prep in Colombo and is in the eighth grade. Apart from his close friends and classmates none at school are aware of his secret interest in golf. But at school the burly youngster is famous as a solid defender of the football team where he has been a regular member. At his school many are of the view that golf is a sport for the rich but Prashan has managed to change the mind-set of a handful.

Engaging in two sports that are totally different may have given the tough look that Prashan possesses as a calm contender. At football he plays as a strong defender but in golf the youngster says it's not the same.

"At golf a player needs to be really calm. The moment he loses his temperament could be the end of a good game. You can't get excited or be angry while the game is on. A golfer has to play his natural game despite what takes place on the course. That's what I like of golf," he added.

Like Prashan his father and uncle too are left-handers. But according to this youngster he is a born right-hander but switched his style to play golf. Apart from practicing at least 12 to 16 hours per week Prashan takes part in tournaments every month. He also makes use of the up-to-date technologies to learn more about the game while following the moves of professional golfer Phil Mickleson who is the only left-hander in the PGA tour. His great interest and dedication for golf has made him a better player than his father and uncle who are veterans of the sport. Earlier Prashan used to borrow expertise of his father and uncle but at present he has turned out to be their adviser.

"My aim is to become a professional golfer. Everybody tell me that I have all the signs of becoming one of the few golfers of Sri Lanka who turned pro at a very early age. I'm really happy to hear comments like that. The support I get from my father and uncle is great. They are eager to see me become a pro golfer," Prashan said with a gleam in his eyes.