Andy Murray would have to dig deep, both personally and financially, if he were to pursue a career as a professional golfer. The Wimbledon legend, 38, who has an estimated net worth of £110million, has turned his attention to another sport since retiring from tennis last year
Having lowered his handicap to just two, Murray was one of the stars of the show at the recent Alfred Dunhill Championship, a popular pro-am tournament in Scotland. Partnering with professional golfer Eddie Pepperell, Murray held his own against Ryder Cup stars Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre, even out-driving Hatton on several holes. He’s no stranger to pro-ams, having previously participated in the BMW PGA Championship, where he eagled the 18th hole during his latest appearance in September.
Murray is aiming to get down to scratch and try his hand at qualifying for The Open Championship. However, if he decides to pursue a professional golf career, it won’t come cheap.
Some tour players spend thousands of pounds a week just to compete, with no guarantee of success. In 2023, American Ryder Cup star Ben Griffin, then ranked 91st in the world, took to TikTok to reveal his weekly expenses.
He estimated that he spends almost £5,000 per week on essentials like flights, fuel, hotels and food, which could amount to a total expenditure of £260,000 a year. While Murray can afford it, such an investment would certainly make a significant dent in his bank account.
That figure excluded clubs and additional equipment, though a sporting icon of Murray’s standing can likely depend on sponsors to cover such costs. Griffin admitted he was “at the lower end compared to other players,” with others bringing along chefs, fitness coaches and relatives.
Griffin has climbed to 11th in the World Golf Rankings since making that confession and may now be facing higher costs. Naturally, the financial rewards far exceed such expenditure when players achieve success, though Murray cannot anticipate being amongst the top earners immediately, despite MacIntyre spotting potential in his Scottish compatriot.
During the Alfred Dunhill, he told NBC: “He’s looking good. Overall, he’s been solid. Here’s the test [playing in wind and rain], how are you going to flight it?”
For now, Murray is considering participating in a regional qualifier for The Open. He told The Times last month: “A couple of my friends who are very good golfers have done it. If I can improve enough, I think it would be a fun thing to do.
“I played in the club championships at Beaverbrook [near his home in Surrey] a few months ago and I loved it. It was the most fun I’d had playing golf and the more I play, the less I enjoy just playing socially.
“I don’t know if I’ll be capable of entering, but I want to try and play in a few more events. I’ve been pretty amazed at how willing the pros are to help because spending five hours with people who are hacking it around probably isn’t that enjoyable.”
