ANDY MURRAY’s kids think he’s a golfer.
The British tennis legend, 38, hung up his racquet following last year’s Paris Olympics.
Since calling it a day, Murray has filled plenty of his time honing his golf game – something he was unable to do during his tennis career due to a back issue.
Discussing his new craft during a chat with The Times at the plush Beaverbrook Golf Club, the three-time Grand Slam champion 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, and 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.”
Murray’s competitive spirit fuelled him to an incredible tennis career, during which he managed to gatecrash the Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer before being severely hampered by a hip injury in 2017.
The Dunblane-born icon has taken that fire into his new golf venture.
Murray wants to enter the Open Championship in 2027, and is taking his goal seriously, even if he accepts that making the final cut is a tall order.
The Scot has penned a sponsorship deal with Callaway, and is entering the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am at St Andrews next month.
Prior to Wimbledon, Murray played a round with fellow two-time SW19 champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The duo enjoyed some social media banter around their game, although straight-talking Murray has now branded the Spaniard a “very average golfer”.
He loves Alcaraz’s tennis, however, even comparing the world No1’s showmanship to that of Ronaldinho.
In addition to honing his golf game, Murray has also tried his hand at coaching since retiring from tennis.
The Wimbledon legend teamed up with former rival Djokovic earlier this year.
The blockbuster partnership initially saw the Serb beat Alcaraz at the Australian Open on the way to the semi-finals.
But following some poor results on the clay, the pair went their separate ways,
Murray currently has no desire to re-enter coaching any time soon, but a partnership with a British player, perhaps even Emma Raducanu or Jack Draper, could be on the cards further down the line.
For now, however, he is most content being at home with his family, concluding: “I spent so many years away from home, travelling, putting my career first. I feel like I’m making up for that a bit now.”
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