- Sir Andy retired last month after a career which saw him win three Grand Slams
- The 37-year-old was in a group with James Anderson and Anton Du Beke today
- Countryman Robert MacIntyre led the team around the famous course
Andy Murray has made a highly-anticipated return to sporting competition after his emotional retirement summer, as he swapped the tennis court for the golf links to compete in a celebrity Pro-Am at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Scottish icon said farewell to the sport he lit up for two decades, after crashing out of the doubles event at the Paris Olympics with partner Dan Evans.
In a glittering career, Murray won two Wimbledon titles and was a two-time Olympic champion as he fought against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a series of classic ‘Big Four’ rivalries.
Speculation has been rife as to what the tennis star will do next with rumours mounting over a potential coaching role as he looks to keep himself busy in his retirement.
He has now completed his much-hyped comeback to the sporting sphere, playing golf with the likes of James Anderson and Tom Holland at Wentworth – and has even got his father William to caddy for him.
Andy Murray has made a highly-anticipated return to sporting competition after his emotional retirement summer, as he swapped the tennis court for the golf links
He has even got his father (right) to caddy for him at the event at Wentworth today
Sir Andy is in the same group as Jimmy Anderson, England’s greatest wicket-taker
Crowds lined the fairways of the famous course as early as 6.30am and most of them seemed to be there for one man.
As he strode out onto the 18th to get his round underway, the tournament being a shotgun start with each group commencing on different holes, the throngs of supporters broke out into a ripple of applause for the tennis great.
But there were a number of eyebrows rasied among the hordes as Sir Andy seemed to forget to observe one of the sport’s key rules, The Telegraph reports.
Plucking his driver out the bag and thumping the ball down the monster of a par five, the Olympian had his green polo untucked, no doubt attracting the ire of the club’s members.
Murray walked down the pristine fairway with partner Robert MacIntyre who came tied eighth in this year’s Open and whose steely performances helped Europe to a Ryder Cup win last year.
The golfer told Sky Sports: ‘Andy is a hero to so many people in Scotland – and across the world – and it’s pretty exciting to be playing alongside him in his BMW PGA Championship debut.
‘He’s been absolutely dedicated to tennis during his incredible career, but it looks like he’s been playing plenty of golf since his retirement, so I’m looking forward to seeing if all that practice has paid off.’
The countrymen are joined by England’s greatest wicket-taker James Anderson and Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke in a strong team.
Crowds lined the fairways of the famous course as early as 6.30am and most of them seemed to be there for one man
As he strode out onto the 18th to get his round underway, the throngs of supporters broke out into a ripple of applause for the tennis great
Murray walked down the pristine fairway with partner Robert MacIntyre who came tied eighth in this year’s Open
Sir Andy plays off seven while Anderson has a handicap off 1.8. Du Beke, who partnered the the Scot’s mother Judy when she appeared on the BBC show in 2014, plays off an impressive one.
The group will have their work cut out beating a strong threesome of four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, England cricket legend Stuart Broad, and former Spurs footballer Gareth Bale, who plays off scratch.
Murray, who took some time off with his family after his retirement, seems determined to make waves in golfing circles now the distractions of tennis have gone.
Evans said this summer: ‘We played before we left and you guys know what he’s like – he will be pretty competitive and well into that.’
The Scot even changed his bio on X, formerly Twitter, to: ‘I played tennis. I now play golf.’
Among the eye-watering list of stars competing at the Pro-Am are sporting heroes Ben Stokes, Jamie George, Jordan Pickford and Kevin Pietersen.
Meanwhile, England’s Ollie Pope, who captained the side during the home series against Sri Lanka this summer, also plays off a handicap of just one.
Celebrities from outside of the world of sport are also dusting off their golfing gloves at Wentworth, with actor Holland and comedian Michael McIntyre making appearances.
Plucking his driver out the bag and thumping the ball down the monster of a par five, the Olympian had his green polo untucked, no doubt attracting the ire of the club’s members
His father William was on hand to make sure the correct club was plucked out for each shot
MacIntyre (left) told Sky Sports : ‘Andy is a hero to so many people in Scotland – and across the world’
Other top professionals getting some practice in include Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose.
The contest is designed to whet the appetitie ahead of the BMW PGA Championship which kicks off on Thursday.
Sir Andy bowed out of tennis in August as he and his Team GB partner Dan Evans were beaten in straight sets by Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in Paris.
Prior to the Games starting, Sir Andy announced he would retire from the sport upon the completion of the event.
And the 37-year-old cut an emotional figure as he waved to supporters at Court Suzanne Lenglen before leaving the tennis court for the final time in his career.
His final tournament was an emotional rollercoaster, stealing a win from the jaws of defeat on two occasions on his way to the quarter-final at the Paris Olympics.
Murray and Evans saved five match points in their first-round victory over Japanese pair Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel.
The British pair managed a similar feat in the second round, but they could not muster the same fight in their defeat to Fritz and Paul.
Murray waved goodbye to the sport following his doubles loss at the Paris Olympics
Murray won three Grand Slam singles titles during his career, including Wimbledon twice
Sir Andy Murray pictured with his gold medal after beating Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the final at Wimbledon, London, in 2012
Murray, pictured with mother Jude, wife Kim, and father Will (L-R), has given his OBE in 2013
Murray ends his career with three Grand Slam titles to his name, which includes a triumph at the US Open in 2012, on top of winning Wimbledon twice.
The Olympics also proved fruitful for Murray. He won two singles golds, in 2012 and 2016 respectively, as well as a silver in the men’s doubles at the London Games.
But with his tennis career behind him, Murray – who was knighted in 2019 – is now ready to spend time with his family. And on the golf course.