Since Sir Andy Murray closed the door on his illustrious tennis career, he has been writing one long love letter to golf.
The popular Scot revealed his aim of reaching a scratch handicap after hanging up his racket at the 2024 Olympic Games, with footage subsequently emerging of Murray going through his paces on the driving range.
“Since I’ve stopped, I feel really free and have got lots of time to do whatever it is I want,” he later told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “I can dedicate time to my children and have free time to play golf or go to the gym on my own terms.”
The two-time Wimbledon champion has even changed his bio description on X (formerly Twitter) to ‘I played tennis. I now play golf’. And now, his love for the game has been rewarded with a tee time at the BMW PGA Championship pro-am with Billy Horschel, Teddy Sheringham and Gareth Bale.
“Andy is a hero to so many people in Scotland – and across the world – and it’s pretty exciting to be playing alongside him in his BMW PGA Championship debut,” Robert MacIntyre said after he was announced in the same group as Murray in 2024.
“He’s been absolutely dedicated to tennis during his incredible career, but it looks like he’s been playing plenty of golf since his retirement, so I’m looking forward to seeing if all that practice has paid off!”
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BMW PGA Championship pro-am filled with big names with low handicaps
Murray’s pursuit of the magic handicap mark of 0 could hardly begin more promisingly, but this isn’t to say he won’t be surrounded by other enthusiastic, celebrity golfers in the pro-am which is taking place the day before the DP World Tour’s marquee event kicks off.
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Also in his group are two-time Wentworth winner Billy Horschel, England football legend Teddy Sheringham and Wales football legend Gareth Bale. With Murray off a mark of 2, there could be some quality on show in this fourball.
Where celebrity pro-ams are concerned, the former Real Madrid and Wales football star Bale is never far. He already plays off scratch. Rory McIlroy isn’t competing in the pro-am this year.
Former Liverpool and England goalscorer Robbie Fowler and captain John Terry have been drawn to play with Sam Quek and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka.
The ForeBrothers are in the field. Ronan Moloney is playing with Padraig Harrington, and Declan Moloney is playing with Ryan Gerard. comedian Michael MacIntyre is playing with Adam Scott and sports boradcasting genius Clare Balding.
The pro-am features two sets of tee times. 18 groups tee off at 8 am in a shotgun start, then another wave of 18 groups tee off at 1.30 pm in another shotgun start. It’s usually a well-supported crowd drawer before the professional action gets underway the next day.
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