Sept. 11 (UPI) — Tennis legend Andy Murray plans to participate in regional qualifying for the British Open, one of golf’s most cherished tournaments, he told reporters.
Murray, the winner of three tennis Grand Slam tournaments, spoke about his ambitions Wednesday at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Amat Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.
“I don’t have ambitions of playing in the Open,” Murray said. “I want to try and play in like the regional qualifying at some stage. A couple of my friends have done it. It would just be a fun thing to do if you got to the level where you’re able to do that. I would do it, but I certainly don’t think I would have any chance of qualifying for the Open.
“I’m fully aware of how good the players that play in those events are and how good the pros are in comparison to amateurs. Even guys that play off +2, 3 are miles off what these guys on the Tour are doing.”
Murray, 38, says he has a two handicap, but hopes to lower that mark. Golfers with scratch handicaps are eligible to enter qualifying for golf’s oldest major. Those events take place in 15 locations across Great Britain and Ireland, with the top finishers from each event progressing to final qualifying. Murray said he plans to participate in 2027.
The three-time Grand Slam winner retired from tennis after the 2024 Summer Olympics. Murray played alongside professional golfer Billy Horschel and former soccer stars Gareth Bale and Teddy Sheringham.
The European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship will be held from Thursday through Sunday at Wentworth Club. Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are among the top players in the field.