ANDY MURRAY’S new sporting career will reach a significant milestone next month – when he swaps Centre Court for the Old Course.
Britain’s greatest tennis player hung up his racquet after competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, safe in the knowledge he had secured a long-lasting legacy within the sport.
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Since then, Murray has taken up his passion for golf and driven by fierce competitive juices, he is slowly bringing his handicap down to scratch.
And his level is so high now that he has earned a spot in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which takes place between October 2-5.
The Scotsman, 38, will go up against Ryder Cup stars, former Open winners and wearers of the Masters green jackets across three courses in his homeland.
The tournament – which has a total prize fund of £3.7million ($5million) – sees amateurs partner with professionals to celebrate Links golf at its finest.
Held the week after the Ryder Cup in Bethpage, New York City, it will be played at Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns in Scotland.
And there are not many people who can claim to have played at both Wimbledon and St Andrews in a competitive capacity.
This will not be his first experience, however, of such a hallowed golfing environment – he recently scored an eagle on the famous 18th hole at the Old Course, nailing the shot from the Valley of Sin.
Murray said: “I’m really looking forward to this.
“It’s very special to be able to play in a full blown professional event.
“And for a Scot like me to be able to do it in Scotland at such a unique location makes it even more exceptional.
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“In many ways the Old Course at St Andrews is very like Centre Court at Wimbledon.
“They both have the same historic feel and atmosphere that just doesn’t exist in many sporting venues around the world. It will be a pleasure to be able to savour that.”
Murray, who was world No.1 for 41 weeks, won the Wimbledon Championship twice (in 2013 and 2016), the US Open in 2012, two Olympic gold medals and guided Britain to Davis Cup glory a decade ago.
In terms of the professionals, a high-class field has been assembled, with major winners Matt Fitzpatrick, Padraig Harrington, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Louis Oosthuizen, Patrick Reed, Cam Smith and Bubba Watson all signed up.
Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Bob MacIntyre will hot-foot it from the Ryder Cup as Europe look to defend the trophy against the Americans.
Celebs-wise, former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating and American rock star Huey Lewis will be involved.
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