Playing the course: Young golfer Margot Caparros shares how the sport and Lexus both drive her passion

The up-and-coming athlete compares the game of golf with Lexus, seeing similarities in the sport and in the car, both of which fuel her passion

At 24 years old, fitness coach and budding athlete Margot Caparros isn’t about to let her current titles and achievements put her in a single box. Once a ballerina in her youth and now a trainer for Rebel and Casa Atletica, the Sports Science alumna from the University of the Philippines says she likes to keep an open mind while exploring a wide range of interests—a trait she credits to the unconditional support her parents have lent her through the years.

It was also their influence which led Caparros to pursue golf as more than just another hobby. She shares, “Golf is my family’s sport. Everyone knows how to play, and it started off as our bonding activity.” Having grown up playing with both young boys and girls since she was nine years old, she adds how the notion that golf is a man’s game never quite bothered her. “The fact that my father introduced me to it means that he believed that there’s a place for women to excel in golf and that I had the potential to do so.”

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Caparros muses about how the activity is infinitely more than the thrills of every swing and score on the sprawling field. It more importantly instils values like integrity, respect and perseverance throughout the highs and lows of the game. “Golf is more mental than physical. The mind is very powerful, and you need to learn how to control your thoughts and emotions while playing on the course,” she explains. “Before I start every game, I would always remind myself to play like it was my last game. This mindset pushes me to give my very best, regardless of the outcome. I try my best not to focus on the external factors that would affect my game, but rather on my internal perspective. Just like any other sport, to succeed, you really need to invest a lot of time and make sacrifices along the way. It all boils down to the question: how invested are you in this?”

This trained discipline was recently put to the test as she jumped at the chance to join the Philippine team for the Asian Interport Tournament in Phuket, Thailand last October 2022. Humbled and honoured by the opportunity, Caparros admits that it also wholly challenged her skills and character as an athlete.

“There was a huge thunderstorm exactly on the days of our tournament, which led us to play under one of the worst weather conditions I have ever experienced,” she relays. “Because I had to walk through and play in wet fairways and flooded greens, there were many times I wanted to quit in the middle of the game. But I would whisper to myself para sa bayan [for the country]’ and tell myself that the country deserves my best efforts.” The team ended up placing as the first runner-up against five other countries, and Caparros passionately promises that her journey is far from over.

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This resilience to grow and improve oneself is aptly mirrored by Lexus, whose luxury models like the NX 200 and RX 350 have long served the Caparros family. “I admire how Lexus always upholds the value of continuous innovation,” the young golfer enthuses. “The brand knows how to adapt and is not resistant to changing for the better. The values of the brand are not just applicable to vehicles, but to my life as an athlete. It’s about making the impossible possible.”

Combining quality craftsmanship with top-notch technology, the new Lexus LS 500 is unequivocally a stylish ride for today’s most ambitious and tireless set, while being a sustainably dependable hybrid car. “As an athlete, efficiency is something that I value with regard to personal performance and transportation,” relays Caparros. “Because I compete in numerous tournaments in different locations around the country, it is important to me that my mode of transportation can provide comfort so that I can use most of my energy in sports. I prioritise having a car that will be able to keep up with my lifestyle.”

Atop a wide range of built-in safety features, the LS 500’s occupants are treated to premium seating and a handcrafted cabin design by the Japanese automaker’s trained takumi masters. Completing the luxurious experience for its passenger, the sedan also boasts body massagers, automatic reclining seats as well as lots of headroom and legroom to accommodate one’s luggage or, in Caparros’ specific case, hefty sporting equipment.

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As the up-and-coming athlete offers a glimpse into her world, the significance of investing in a reliable car that can accompany her throughout various pursuits is profoundly underlined. Recognising that there is still so much more to discover and learn about herself, Caparros says of her promising future, “I’m going to continue with golf and see where it takes me. I don’t think I have reached my full potential yet, so there’s still a lot of room for improvement.”

Caparros likewise expresses how she finds herself becoming more open-minded about going back to school to hone other skills as well, evincing that perfecting one’s craft is a holistic undertaking which involves endless learning and training, on and off the course. As her commitment and passions take her far beyond par 18, Caparros looks forward to seeking out her many other strengths and taking it all one step at a time.

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Credits

Photography: JV Rabano

Hair: Criselda Valdoz

Make-Up: Johnson Estrella

Location: Sta Elena Golf and Country Club

Production: Bianca Simeon, Geryll Pangilinan

Mac Fabella

Contributing Writer, Tatler Philippines

Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.