BARTY BIRDIE
Ash Barty hints at future in GOLF after excelling at tennis and cricket – with Tiger Woods praising her ‘great swing’
ASH BARTY could be eyeing another sporting career, this time in GOLF - and would have the backing of Tiger Woods.
The former world No1 tennis ace plays off a handicap of four.
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And she proved her class by winning a tournament at Brookwater Golf and Country Club in Queensland this weekend.
Barty, who won the club championship in 2020, shot a round of 34 and is said to have won £17 after finishing first in the five-player field - a couple of months after landing £1.6million for winning the Australian Open to take her career earnings beyond £18m.
And after dropping her bombshell retirement from tennis just two weeks ago to "chase other dreams".
The 25-year-old refused to disclose what those plans are but some reckon it may be a shot at going down the golf route.
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World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, who will captain Australia’s golf teams at the Paris 2024 Olympics said: “I don’t see Ash wanting to do a sport where she has to travel the world.
"I think that’s part of what she didn’t like about tennis, being away from Australia. [But] I wouldn’t put it past her to be Australian amateur champion one day."
Barty and her fiance Garry Kissick met on the course and are building a new house right by the Brookwater club.
The reigning Wimbledon took a break from tennis in 2014 and played in the Women's Big Bash cricket competition in Australia before returning to tennis and dominating the sport in recent years.
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However, in 2020 she featured at an exhibition golf event in Melbourne.
And after pulling off a fine wedge shot in front of Woods, the legendary American said: "She's got a great wing, are you kidding me?"
Woods, 46, is currently at Augusta and considering a shock appearance at this week's Masters.
Just 14 months ago, the 15-time major champ was fortunate to survive a horror car crash and smashed his leg.
But he practised at his beloved Georgia course and could feature in the field come Thursday's first round and begin his quest for a sixth green jacket.
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