Andy Murray and Gareth Bale are part of the field for an upcoming golf event
Andy Murray and Gareth Bale are set to compete in a prestigious golf tournament. The sporting icons are set to tee off in their respective pairs at the Sunnigdale Foursomes on Tuesday.
Murray has spent significant time on the golf course since retiring from tennis in 2024. The two-time Wimbledon champion earned plaudits for his performance in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am last year.
Professional golfer Eddie Pepperell joined him and the pair are set to reunite for the Sunningdale Foursomes in Berkshire. Pepperell shared insight on how the duo entered the tournament and gave an update on the tennis star’s impressive handicap.
“I thought, I’ve got this nice idea,” Pepperell said on The Chipping Forecast podcast. “I’m going to text him now that I’ve got his number and ask him if he wants to play the Sunningdale Foursomes with me. And he responded, ‘100 per cent, that would be brilliant.’ So I entered us, put a little bio in – ‘multiple grand slam major tennis champion, DP World Tour player’ – and hopefully we [will] be accepted.
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“In fact, his handicap just met the criteria by chance, and this is genuine, 1.4. So he’s just eligible by handicap, and me too. We shall hopefully give it a go, and I think it would be a really fun thing to do.”
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Murray is joined in the Sunningdale Foursomes field by ex-Real Madrid star Gareth Bale. The five-time Champions League winner, who hung up his boots in 2023, will be partnered with Matthew Wylie at the event.
Bale’s passion for golf was well-documented throughout his footballing career. The Welsh hero recently competed at the Reignwood Icons of Football golf tournament in Thailand last where his handicap was listed as zero, making him a scratch golfer.
It is a feat made even more impressive when compared to other celebrities. National Club Golfer reported England captain Harry Kane as having a handicap of two, while Chelsea legend John Terry reportedly has a four handicap. However, Premier League cult hero Jimmy Bullard is also claimed to be a scratch golfer.
Outside of the footballing world, National Club Golfer lists actor Bill Murray as having a seven handicap, singer Justin Timberlake as playing off four, and Spider-Man star Tom Holland as having a three handicap.
In September, during Murray’s appearance at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am, Golf Magic reported that Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave was playing off seven and Hollywood legend Michael Douglas had a 10 handicap.
At Sunnigdale Foursomes, male professionals play off plus one, while amateurs play off zero. Meanwhile, female pros play off two, with amateurs starting on three.
The event will begin on the old course on Tuesday morning then switch to the new course in the afternoon, with the pattern repeating on Wednesday. The quarter-finals begin on Thursday, followed by the semi-finals and final on Friday, with all three stages taking place on the old course.
Celebrity golf handicaps
Gareth Bale – 0
Jimmy Bullard – 0
Andy Murray – 1.4
Harry Kane – 2
Tom Holland – 3
Justin Timberlake – 4
Bill Murray – 7
Sir Steve Redgrave – 7
Michael Douglas – 10
