When Cecilie Nielsen is off the golf course, she can most likely be found sketching up new design ideas on her drawing pad for her apparel brand.
The Texas Tech graduate, who majored in apparel design, is playing her rookie season on the LET Access Series (LETAS) since turning professional in 2025.
Competing on home soil at this week’s CSK Steel Women’s Open, the Danish golfer, 26, said: “It’s been super fun, obviously a bit stressful. You travel every week, and there’s a new course, new setup. You have to be able to adjust.
“But I think having like my dad has been caddying for me, and that’s been a great help. It’s just a joy being out here. Overall this season I’ve only been home for like two weeks, so this week is great. I have my family here with me and my dog.”
While playing college golf at Texas Tech, Nielsen pivoted from a psychology degree to apparel design.
“In my sophomore year, I was like, okay, if I’m not choosing the golf path, what would I like to do,” she said. “I really want to help people. So creating something that’s actually going to help people’s performance. I was like okay, like apparel design. This is going to be it.
“There’s a lot of apparel today that’s maybe more so for show and not actually for performance. I’m trying to create some good lines and good designs that will actually help the players.
“I’m still in the starting phase, I create my patterns and I sew it. I always have my drawing pad with me, so I’m like sketching up new ideas for clothes.”
Growing up near Copenhagen, Nielsen picked up golf from her dad’s side of the family.
“They were golf nerds,” she said. “Everything they were talking about was always golf. So when me and my cousin we turned five, they were like, okay, they’re old enough. So we got out on the golf course and got a club in our hand. I haven’t really stopped since so it was quite successful.
“From an early age, I got on the national team when I was 13 or 14, and it’s just always been fun for my family to come out and support and watch us play, and yeah, it’s just been really nice.”
Standing at 1.86cm tall, Nielsen looked up to players like Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie who were of similar height.
“They were tall as well, so I was like, okay, when you’re tall, you can play really good golf too,” she said. “I looked at them also for their fashion because they they weren’t afraid of standing out. But golfing wise, I’ve always been like, okay, how can I prove myself to be better.”
Still in the early stages of her career, Nielsen has high hopes for her golfing career.
“I dream big,” she added. “I want to be on the LPGA. I want to reach LET. Right now, we’re obviously here on the LET Access. I think you have to take it as a golf round, take one shot at a time. I’m gonna do everything I can to make my dreams come true.”
