It might be hard to believe but professional golfers have other passions besides just playing golf for a living. In fact, some of them probably will surprise you. Here are 10 unusual Tour pro hobbies.
Tiger Woods – Spearfishing
via gopackup.com
Normally golfers will try to stay out of the water, however, Tiger Woods isn’t exactly an ordinary golfer. When the back is healthy, the 14-time major champion has quite an adventurous hobby; the sport of spearfishing. It’s been well documented the Woods used to train with Navy SEALS and he applies some of those skills such as being able to free dive to over 100 feet and the ability to hold his breath for over four minutes.
“My whole deal is to go deeper and longer so I can shoot bigger fish,” Woods told the Orange County Register a few years ago. “I thoroughly enjoy shooting fish and catching lobster on the free-dives. But I want to go after yellowfin tuna. So I need to stay down a little longer.
“I usually cheat when I’m spearfishing. I use scuba instead of free-diving. But on scuba, the big tuna hear your bubbles and bolt.”
Jimmy Walker – Astronomy
via mysanantonio.com
If golf didn’t work out for 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker, he could’ve also went pro in astro-imagery or space photography. In fact, he even has an observatory in New Mexico to hone his craft.
“Golf is my job and I continue to try to get better and better each year. I try to take that into imaging,” he explained. “I’m competitive and I try to be really good at it. I work hard, and I practice hard. It’s my whole upbringing, being competitive and wanting to be the best.”
Sir Nick Faldo – Fly Fishing
via orvis.com
When six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo isn’t in the booth, he’s usually fly fishing. He says he developed his passion as a child.
“I find fly-fishing completely engrossing. I love the tranquility, the sound of the river,” he explained. “When you come upon a rising trout that’s picky and you have to try six different fly patterns to get him to take, 30 or 40 minutes will fly by, and that fish has had your complete attention. When you’re fishing, you’re not clock-watching. You get lost in time.”
Adam Scott – Surfing
via aussiegolfer.com.au
If you’re from Austrailia you either surf or know somebody who does. Adam Scott is no exception. The 2013 Masters champion loves to suit up and catch some waves when he has the chance. But don’t expect him to enter any big wave competitions.
“I know my ability in surfing,” he said in an interview with Golf.com. “At some point you’ve got to take off on something, but I don’t charge big waves….I’m not going out there to scare myself. “Golf means livelihood while surfing means ‘Adam time'” he adds.
Sergio Garcia – Soccer
via mlssoccer.com
2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia is an avid soccer fan and plays the game whenever he has the opportunity. The Spaniard’s team is Real Madrid, but locally he pulls for CF Borriol in Castellon.
“As any good Spaniard will tell you, we love football. Sport in general in Spain has been great for the last 10 years or so, but football has been great with the Euro Cups (wins in 2008 and 2012) and the World Cup (in 2010),” Garcia said according to CNN.
Luke Donald – Art
via golfchannel.com
Luke Donald is an artist with a wedge and a paint brush. The former World No.1 majored in art theory and practice at Northwestern University back in college and says the skill has helped him on the golf course. “People often use just one side of their brain, but I’m able to use both sides – the artistic and the logical side,” the Englishman once said.
Nicolas Colsaerts – DJ
Nicolas Colsaerts aka the “Belgium Bomber” also enjoys getting on the ones and twos. His passion is music and DJs in his spare time. When he’s not crushing 300+ yard drives in the world’s biggest events, you can find him jamming out during dance music festivals.
“I’ve always been into music, and the music I liked to listen to was in clubs,” he told Golf Digest. “I always knew I had a rock-and-roll side in me, but when you’re in Brussels doing the underground thing, you find yourself in very odd places at times.”
Graeme McDowell – Restauranteur/Brewer
via golf.com
Not only is Graeme McDowell is a major winner, he’s also a restaurateur and a brewer. He opened up his restaurant Nona Blue in Florida with a couple of partners and then went into brewing when he joined forces with Keegan Bradley and Freddie Jacobson to create GolfBeer. Naturally, the Northern Irishman’s brew was a “Celtic Pale Ale.”
According to the Irish Examiner, he said:”For me as a golfer and a restaurant owner, GolfBeer is the perfect marriage, bringing together two of my favorite things.”
Greg Norman – Deep Sea Fishing
via sportfishingmag.com
It’s no coincidence Greg Norman is known as the “Great White Shark” given his aggressive style of play back in the day as well as his love for deep sea fishing. The Australian famously bought a $70m 230-foot yacht, named appropriately “Aussie Rules.”
Gary Player – Race Horse Breeder
Gary Player has been breeding racehorses in South Africa for years.
“I love golf, and I love horses and farming. I don’t know what I love more — I have to give them a tie,” Player told CNN’s Winning Post. “They both play a very important role in my life. There’s a wonderful saying, very familiar with people in the horse business — ‘the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.’
“When I take a break from golf, I can recharge my batteries, which is a big help. Longevity has been a very valuable part of my life.”
