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Many athletes find a refuge in golf. And there are several who go further and begin to take their first steps in tournaments. This is the case of what happens in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a PGA Tour event in which professional and amateur golfers compete.
Sports stars like Gareth Bale or Pau Gasol will be one of the main attractions in this tournament that starts today. But the list of sports personalities who frequently play golf goes much further.
Sportsman, golf
Carlos Sainz
The Formula 1 driver of the Ferrari team is another posh athlete who has golf among his main hobbies.
Last November, taking advantage of the fact that the Gran Circo was stopping in Mexico, he dropped by Mayakoba, where he played a few holes with PGA star Tony Finau. It is common to see him share laps with the professional Eugenio López-Chacarra Lando Norris between races.
His father is also a big fan. Rafael Nadal
The champion of 22 Grand Slams has a handicap of -0.5, bordering on that of the professionals. In fact, Nadal was invited to participate in a Spanish Open, although the tennis player turned it down.
He has already participated in several tournaments and, last year, he was second in the Balearic Mid Amateur and fifth in the absolute Balearic championship. His swing, despite being very peculiar and unorthodox, is tremendously effective.
Pau Gasol
This Spanish basketball legend's fondness for golf, and his friendship with players like Sergio García or Jon Rahm, have led him to be seen on courses like Valderrama or Saint Andrews. This year he is among the celebrities playing at Pebble Beach.
Michael Jordan
The image of 23 of the Chicago Bulls playing golf with a cigar in his mouth is one of the most iconic in the sport. The six-ring winner found in golf a refuge from his hectic life, and he never hid how much he liked to bet with his rivals in each round.
Between 2001 and 2014, Jordan hosted the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, an annual celebrity tournament for charity. Carlos Alcaraz
The new luminary of Spanish tennis came to this sport at the hands of Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has a 1 handicap (close to professional level) and came to caddy for Sergio García.
They have ever told that they itch when they play together. Gareth Bale
The Welshman's passion for golf, synthesized in that mythical “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order” has cost him criticism in the world of football.
Another with a spectacular handicap, in his case 2, who has participated in several Pro Ams and will have his first experience at Pebble Beach. Stephen Curry
The best shooter in NBA history also has exquisite golf aim. It is common to see him play even on days when he has a game, and whenever he can he goes to tournaments.
He went on to participate twice in the Ellie Mae Classic, a tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, although he never made the cut. That of the Golden State Warriors even has its own circuit, Underrated Golf, in which it seeks to give opportunities to young people.
Pep Guardiola
The Catalan coach has been passionate about golf since his time in Barcelona, where he played a lot with Johann Cruyff. He has participated in relevant events, such as the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am, in which he teamed up with the professional Tommy Fleetwood.
Last year he was one of the stars of the Icons Series, a kind of Ryder Cup for celebrities including Michael Phelps and Harry Kane, among many others. He has also participated several times in the Koeman Cup, the charity tournament organized by the Dutch coach.
Tomy Romo
After leaving the NFL, the former quarterback began to spend even more time on his other favorite sport. And he gave him returns. His level within the amateur world is such that he has come to play as a guest in a PGA tournament, the 2019 Safeway Open.
He did not make the cut, but played the first round at two under par. He won the American Century Championship celebrity tournament in 2022. Canelo Alvarez
As also happened to Bale, the Mexican boxer has been criticized on numerous occasions for combining his main sport, boxing, with golf.
He plays several times a week, and participated in the last edition of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he put up a shot on 17th in which he just missed the hole-in-one.