Andy Murray may only have ended his tennis career just last month, but the former British No.1 has wasted no time in trying his hand at a new sport in retirement.
The 37-year-old’s career ended at the Paris Olympics as he was knocked out of the men’s doubles at the quarter-final stage alongside Dan Evans. The defeat saw him bring the curtain down on an illustrious career in which he won two Olympic golds, two Wimbledon championships and the US Open, with 46 titles to his name in total.
His decision to hang up his racquet came after he pulled out of the men’s singles events at Wimbledon and the Olympics this year, having undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his spine. But while he has had an injury-hit few years, Murray is unlikely to be sitting around twiddling his thumbs in retirement and is instead keen to try a different sport.
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A keen golfer, the Scot previously revealed that he would use his new spare time to try to improve his skills on the fairway following the conclusion of his tennis career. In fact, he has set his sights on the ambitious target of becoming a scratch golfer, which means consistently shooting par or better.
On Wednesday, he shared a short video from his first golf lesson, demonstrating an impressive swing as he teed off. Murray was also keen for feedback from his followers, as he wrote: “First ever golf lesson today on the journey to become a scratch golfer. Any tips welcome!”
It comes after Murray revealed said that while he hadn’t exactly decided what he wanted to do in retirement yet, he knew that his wife and children would be his biggest commitment, as well as his new golf plans.
“I don’t know exactly what the rest of my life will look like, but I will still stay in touch with the sport,” he said in an interview ahead of the Olympics. “Initially, I want to be at home with my family. I want to spend a lot of time with my kids and my wife, so I won’t be on the road much, I know that.”
“I’ll play a lot of golf. I want to become a scratch golfer. I’ve always loved playing golf, but because of the issues with my back, I haven’t played for five or six years.”
While he admitted that he would want to stay involved with the Olympics “in some capacity”, Murray also ruled out a return to tennis, saying it was “the right time to stop”. He also made it clear that whatever he turned his hand to next, he would be doing it compete, not just to have “a hit and giggle”.
“I would love to be part of the next Olympics in some capacity, but I don’t have any clear plans on what it is I’m going to do from a work perspective,” he said.
“I don’t see myself playing any of the [tennis] invitational things or those sort of events. I expect I’ll still hit some balls and stuff, but when I play sport, I like to compete – whether that’s in cards, golf or whatever. I want to be competitive. I don’t want to just have a hit and giggle.”
“I know it’s the right time to stop,” Murray added. “I didn’t feel that way a few months ago when I thought this is when I was going to stop but I didn’t really want to, whereas now I want to – and I know that it’s the right time for me, so I feel good about it.”
