For two decades, Andy Murray’s life was a blur of tennis drills, rehab sessions, and punishing global schedules. Now, with his pro career winding down, the three-time Grand Slam champion has discovered a new sporting obsession… and it involves a very different size of ball.
“I’ve always loved golf,” begins Andy Murray, fresh from another early morning round. “It was never something I could pursue before though because of my back and the demands of the tennis tour. I never really had the time or freedom to properly commit to it. Now I’ve got a bit more space in my life… and I’m treating it seriously.”
Golf has become more than a pastime for the 38-year-old. It’s a new chapter.
“When I stepped back from the tennis grind, I needed an outlet. Golf gives me that focus and challenge without wrecking my joints in the same way,” he says. “It’s become something I genuinely care about – I want to get better, not just mess about.”
His training mindset has already paid dividends. At the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am in 2024, Murray impressed onlookers, including Scottish pro Robert MacIntyre, with a calm, calculated performance. “I was nervous,” Murray admits. “I couldn’t feel my arms or legs at the start, but then I settled. I loved it.”
That performance led to a natural partnership with Callaway Golf, whose clubs he’d already been using. “I’m a bit of a gear nerd,” he laughs. “We clicked over the same approach – discipline, improvement, getting into the numbers. It’s not just about logos on hats.”
Now a European ambassador for the brand, Murray’s even narrating campaigns, testing equipment and inspiring younger players. “I’ve loved being part of it. They’ve really helped me understand the tech side of golf which, for someone like me, is addictive.”
While the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon champ is not chasing a pro career, he does have goals. “I want to become a scratch golfer. I’m tracking fairways hit, adjusting, reviewing – it’s basically how I trained for tennis.”
And yes, he’s still learning. “Putting is brutal,” he laughs. “In tennis, you’ve got rhythm. In golf, one bad read and it’s a double bogey.”
A recent round with Gareth Bale proved instructive. “Gareth’s game is no joke. He’s proper. It reminded me that elite athletes carry over the same mentality – it’s all about detail, and it’s different from Centre Court. However that buzz of success… that’s still there, and I don’t think that will ever leave me!”
