Professionals in any sport are naturally gifted athletes. They are inherently strong, have extraordinary hand-eye coordination, and have impeccable control of their bodies. They are the best in the world at what they do. But when they’re not dominating on the ice, the court, the field, or the diamond, many of these athletes turn to golf, as the game offers them a outlet that challenges both their abilities and their ego. Baseball great Hank Aaron once spoke of his golfing struggles: “It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball—I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” Here are some notable pro athletes that love the game, and even occasionally excel at it.
Steph Curry
The star Golden State Warriors guard and three-time NBA Champion made headlines in 2017 when he received an exemption into the Web.com Tour’s Ellie May Classic. Curry—currently listed as a scratch at San Francisco’s CalClub—held his own in the event, firing back-to-back rounds of 74. According to a report from ESPN in May, Curry is in talks to host his own PGA Tour event in 2019.
Tony Romo
Another star athlete to receive a tour exemption, Tony Romo competed in the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, an opposite-field event on the PGA Tour. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback carries a +0.2 handicap and plays in a number of top amateur events throughout the year.
Kyle Lowry
When the Toronto Raptors point guard isn’t dropping dimes on the hardwood, chances are you’ll find him on a golf course. Lowry’s love for the game started as a young kid playing. He’s also a huge fan of the game. During this year’s NBA All-Star break, Lowry could be spotted at the Genesis Open following the likes of Tiger Woods inside the ropes.
John Smoltz
The Hall of Fame pitcher proved he could still hold his own under pressure, qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open in June shooting a four under par 68 in the process. Smoltz, listed as a +1.5 handicap, said that qualifying for the championship was one of the top athletic accomplishments of his career.
Wayne Gretzky
The Great One has been said to practically live on the links in California since the end of his hockey career. And now that his son-in-law is world number one Dustin Johnson, his life pretty much revolves around the sport. Now 57, Gretzky is a single digit handicap at California’s Sherwood Country Club, former site of the Hero World Challenge.
Josh Donaldson
The Toronto Blue Jays’ All-Star third baseman spends most of his off-season on the golf course. He grew up next to a driving range and had clubs in his hand from a young age. His golf swing is as powerful as his baseball swing – with the ability to drive the ball 300+ yards. Donaldson, 2015 American League MVP, teamed up with Golf Town athlete Brooke Henderson and former NHL star Mike Modano last year at the Diamond Resorts Invitational.
In the intro “challenges both their abilities and their ego” sums up the beauty of the game really well.
Not that it means anything but it’s interesting to note that four of the six profiled here are connected with Toronto.
( fourth being Curry spent much of a childhood here ).