Andy Murray is taking part at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in his homeland of Scotland this week and he swiftly charmed supporters with a two-word quip. The Scottish tennis legend retired in August 2024 following his appearance at the Paris Olympics.
Murray stands amongst the most accomplished British tennis stars in history, claiming Wimbledon glory twice alongside his 2012 US Open triumph. Following an emotional farewell Murray can now concentrate on another sporting passion: golf. The 38-year-old is making his debut at the Pro-Am team tournament at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday and revealed his genuine emotions as he approached the opening tee.
A spectator enquired whilst he made his way to the tee box: “Are you nervous?” Despite Murray’s status as a three-time Grand Slam champion, his reply whilst preparing to commence this Pro-Am was: “I am.”
Spectators gathered behind the ropes to witness Murray before he addressed the first tee erupted into laughter, with many capturing the moment on their mobile phones. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship operates as a dual-format tournament, incorporating a Pro-Am where Murray is participating alongside a prestigious DP World Tour competition. The event uniquely unfolds across three separate links golf venues in Scotland.
St Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns each stage portions of the tournament. Murray commenced the team competition partnering Eddie Pepperell at Carnoustie, with a prize fund of £150,000 and a maximum reward of £37k that the tennis icon will be targeting.
In a conversation with The Times last week, Murray admitted his children frequently confuse him for a professional golfer given his daily dedication to the sport. He said: “My kids think I’m a golfer. They say, ‘Daddy, why do you play every day?’ I didn’t really play for 12 years because I had a back operation in my mid-twenties and I was sore when I practised.
“Thankfully, it’s been pretty good since I finished – I think tennis was the main issue – and I just really enjoy it. I guess it has filled a bit of a void. It is something to practise and get better at and there are so many different parts of the game you can work on. I don’t find that boring. If I don’t have any commitments, I’ll arrive at 9am and stay there until I have to pick the kids back up from school.
“I think that comes from my career as a professional athlete. I’m used to spending all day at the training centre and going to the gym, doing your physio work, that’s normal for me. I know I’m doing more than most but I’m in a position where I’m able to because I don’t have to work during the week.”
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As Murray prepared for his inaugural appearance at the Alfred Dunhill Links he also disclosed that Callaway, his new sponsorship partner, are organising professional coaching sessions for him.
“I played in the club championships at Beaverbrook a few months ago and I loved it. It was the most fun I’d had playing golf and the more I play, the less I enjoy just playing socially,” he added. “I want to try and play in a few more events. I’ve been pretty amazed at how willing the pros are to help because spending five hours with people who are hacking it around probably isn’t that enjoyable.”