Jimmy Bullard has made his passion for golf no secret (Image: Getty)
Former star Jimmy Bullard has been tipped by ex-world No. 1 golfer Lee Westwood to make a splash in the world of golf. Since hanging up his football boots, Bullard’s passion for golf has been evident, regularly showcasing his skills on social media and featuring on the popular ‘Golf Life’ YouTube channel, run by Soccer AM’s Pete ‘Tubes’ Dale and his brother Andrew. Bullard, who often brags about his scratch handicap on the show, has proven himself as one of the top golfers among former footballers.
This week, he’ll have the opportunity to display his golfing talent to a larger audience after being selected for the Icon Series. The two-day matchplay event will pit 24 of football’s biggest names against each other on the green, divided into Team England and Team World.
Bullard, who was called up to represent the England national team under Fabio Capello, will represent England alongside football legends like Paul Scholes, John Terry, and Robbie Fowler, with Westwood captaining the team. Westwood has singled out Bullard and former captain Terry as some of his strongest players.
Speaking to , he said: “I have got some good players on my team, I’ve played with quite a few of them. John Terry, he plays a lot and has a low handicap. Jimmy Bullard is in, he is class.”
Westwood thinks so highly of the former midfielder that he’s encouraged him to turn professional when he hits 50 and aim for a spot on the Legends Tour, Europe’s premier senior circuit.
Lee Westwood believes Jimmy Bullard has what it takes to turn pro (Image: Icon Series)
“I said to Jimmy, I think he is about to turn 50, but if he put his mind to it he could probably turn pro and compete on the Legends Tour for the European seniors. Technically he is really good. He flushes it. I like watching Jimmy hit it, he is a character.”
Bullard is no stranger to professional golf events. Between 2014 and 2016, he made five starts on the now-defunct EuroPro Tour, achieving his best finish tied for 22nd.
He returned to tour golf last year, playing a one-round event on the Clutch Pro Tour where he finished tied for 30th among over 100 competitors. This week, however, he’ll face off against many of his fellow players in the Team World squad, led by Sergio Garcia and featuring big names like David Ginola, Luis Figo, Ruud Gullit and Gabriel Batistuta.
Garcia has revealed some insider knowledge on his team’s golfing prowess, praising Batistuta’s skills and hinting at a secret weapon reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tactics. He singled out Diego Forlan as an under-the-radar golfer, saying: “Diego [Forlan] is an eight-handicap but I think he plays a bit better than that. He has a good swing. We have played some golf together.”
The competitive spirit will be in full swing this Saturday at Robinswood Golf Course in Reignwood Park, Bangkok, where the matchplay event will see four rounds played across two days.
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