Maria Verchenova: the new star of women’s golf

For years women's golf has suffered from something of an image problem, but it may be about to find a whole new audience thanks to Maria Verchenova, who is being touted as the sport's answer to Maria Sharapova.

Purists may take issue with the new star, for her fame is more down to her looks than her ability with a sand-wedge. But while she is not in the same league as golf legends Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam, yet, the 23-year-old Russian has seen her popularity explode after emerging as a star on the web.

She was introduced to golf by her father on a holiday to the Czech Republic and fell in love with the sport. And although her progress has been hampered by living in a country with just three golf courses, she is the latest glamorous Russian sportswoman to rise to prominence, following in the footsteps of the likes of Sharapova, gymnast Svetlana Khorkina and pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

Verchenova shows promise and is the first Russian to become a full-time member of the Ladies European Tour. Her debut season was in 2007, and she managed a top-10 finish in that year at a tournament in Wales. In 2008 she earned a place in the top five in Tenerife and contended for the lead with Sorenstam in the end-of-year Dubai Ladies Masters.

Now some of her fans are calling for her to add some much needed glamour to the LGPA. Although other camera-friendly prospects like Michelle Wie have failed to make an impact.

Verchenova, who says she likes sushi, watching Ellen Degeneres on TV and the film The Bodyguard, has no problems being compared to her fellow coutrywoman Sharapova. "I am looking at Maria, not because of the way she looks but because of the way she plays," she explains. "I think Russian women are strong mentally. They are trying really hard and they are achieving things."

Time will tell if Verchenova is golf's equivalent to Sharapova - or if she will follow the path of another Russian beauty, Anna Kournikova who was touted for greatness but ultimately failed to justify the hype, even if she sold a lot of calendars.