Google News Tennis-star-turned-golf-pro encourages Ashleigh Barty to pursue golf career
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 20542
Former Australian tennis player Scott Draper has encouraged Ashleigh Barty not to be afraid to pursue a golf career as he thinks the 25-year-old has what it takes to successful in the game. Draper, who won the 2005 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Sam Stosur, retired the same year and changed tennis with golf.
Barty, a three-time Grand Slam champion, announced a shock retirement from tennis at the age of 25 in late March. This month, Golf won a ladies golf event in Queensland. Barty is passionate about golf and some think the former world No.
1 could try herself in professional golf. “When people are making a decision to do something that is perhaps out of their comfort zone or a little bit different, I just like life and people tend to go you shouldn’t do that or can’t do that,” Draper told the Courier Mail.
“It is great when someone has the passion to do something different or they give it a go regardless of what the outcome may be. “What she did, to be No 1 in the world at 25 years of age, to make a decision like that, it is completely extraordinary that someone has that courage and clarity”.
Barty has a solid golf game
Barty has caught the eyes of some golf coaches, most notably Gary Berter. Berter is the coach of Australian PGA tour winner Matt Jones. “Her set-up is perfect, she has great dynamics already which is really important for distance," he said.
“The positive is her awesome athletic motion, technique and mental side to compete”. Meanwhile, Barty signed up to play golf's Icons Series exhibition event. “She’s absolutely terrific,” Icons Series chief executive Thomas Brookes told the Sydney Morning Herald about Barty and her involvement in the event, revealing how she impressed English golfer Ian Poulter at the US Open.