Ashleigh Barty to play exhibition golf tournament
WTATuesday, 19 April 2022 at 11:00
Updated at Sunday, 05 May 2024 at 12:12
It's been a month since Ashleigh Barty ended her professional tennis career, but it looks like she didn't quit sports overall.
Barty will compete in the inaugural Icons Series event which will be a golf team exhibition competition. Her teammates will include boxer Canelo Alvarez, football manager Pep Guardiola, and football player Harry Kane.
For the WTA's former world no. 1, it will be just a way of competing again but also showing her qualities in golf. She showed her love for surfing recently, and it seems that Barty has interest in many sports outside of tennis, and golf is next on the list.
Ahead of her participation in the Icons Series, the former Australian tennis player spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald, highlighting that there is more behind her participation.
"I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world. The series is also a great opportunity for athletes to have an impact on local community and charity projects in each of the host destinations."
"It’s such a unique opportunity to have fun, test yourself and compete against the world’s greatest athletes in a sport that we are all so passionate about. I can’t wait to experience Liberty National and learn from our iconic captain, Ernie Els. I hope all the Aussie fans in New York and New Jersey come out to cheer us on."
For Icons Series chief executive, Thomas Brookes, it's also a significant achievement to attract a player such as Barty, who he already saw playing and was really impressed.
"She’s absolutely terrific. She did a range session with Ian Poulter, who is one of our future captains in September when she was at the US Open, and she had not hit a golf ball for a while. Ian said, ‘just hit a few balls and we’ll see how you go’."
"She hit this ball, I don’t know how far. And he turned around and said, ‘you’re having me on. Let’s just take it a bit deeper. Can you do me a high fade?’ And she did a high fade. Then he said, ‘can you do me a low draw?’ And she did a low draw. He said, ‘oh my goodness, you are something else.’"
"She’s got those skill sets within her locker. With a bit of practice, she can get lower than a three or four handicap. I know she’s really, really excited to be playing in New York and she’s also really keen to bring the concept to Australia."
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