It would be quite remarkable if the two-time Wimbledon champ made it.
SIR Andy Murray has set his sights on qualifying for golf’s Open Championship after becoming obsessed with the game since his retirement from tennis.
The Scot has swapped his racket for a set of clubs and even changed his profile description on X to “I played tennis. I now play golf“.
Andy Murray isn’t messing about when it comes to his new careerCredit: Getty
He has got his handicap down from seven to two in a matter of months and is aiming to become a scratch golfer.
Now the 38-year-old, who has a golf simulator fitted in his home, has told how he is planning to try to compete at the biggest event in the men‘s game.
Amateur golfers with a scratch handicap can pay £200 to enter regional qualifying for the Open.
It takes place at 15 venues across the UK and Ireland with each event offering between seven and 10 qualification spots for Final Qualifying for the major, which will be held at Royal Birkdale on Merseyside next year
Asked about trying to qualify for the Open during an appearance on The Chipping Forecast podcast, Murray said: “I would like to do that. A couple of my friends have done it that are into golf.
“One of them is an ex-tennis player and he did it this year.
“I have been playing a lot, practising a lot, but I want to start playing more competitions and handing in more cards.
“I have played quite a lot of social golf recently and I don’t think it’s necessarily the best way to get better.
“I love the competitive side of playing in competitions and that’s why I want to try and do that more.
“I feel like I play better and concentrate better when it feels like there is something on the line.”
Murray said his expectations of qualifying at the first attempt are low but he thinks the experience will improve his game.
He added: “I’m aware because I was an athlete myself that I’m a terrible golfer relative to a professional golfer.
“Lots of amateur sports fans feel like ‘Oh if I played more golf I could be a professional golfer’.
“I understand that a scratch golfer is a good golfer but the difference between a scratch golfer and a professional is huge.
“I’m not expecting that I would qualify for the Open but I think going through that process and trying to do it would be fun.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray hung up his racket after competing for Team GB at the Paris Olympics last year following a glittering career.
He revealed he did not miss playing tennis at all and said golf had replaced the routine of training on the court.
He said: “I thought I was going to miss it a lot because I loved tennis. I loved the competition, the training and the travelling but my body wasn’t able to do it anymore.
“But when I stopped I really haven’t missed it all.
“At home I have got four young children so I’m obviously very busy with them and when they’re at school golf has replaced that routine of training and practising at something and I’m really enjoying that.”
