Australian Tennis player turned golf pro Scott Draper believes former women’s tennis number one Ash Barty has the ability to try her hand in a code switch from court to golf course.
Draper, 47, who reached an ATP career-high rank of 42, made the career switch to golf in the early 2000s after using the game as a coping mechanism to deal with the passing of first wife Kellie Grieg.
Ash Barty dials in at the 2019 pre Presidents Cup exhibition, hitting over the Yarra Valley with Tiger Woods, who was amazed by her swing
The 1992 Junior Wimbleton doubles winner has urged Barty to take the golf path providing she has the passion to challenge herself in a different sport.
‚When people are making a decision to do something that is perhaps out of their comfort zone or a little bit different … I just think life and people tend to go, you shouldn’t do that or can’t do that,‘ Draper told the Courier Mail.
‚It is great when someone has the passion to do something different or they give it a go regardless of what the outcome may be.
‚What she did … to be No.1 in the world at 25 years of age, to make a decision like that … it is completely extraordinary that someone has that courage and clarity.‘
Ash Barty (pictured centre) plays a round of golf with fiance Gary Kissick and American tennis player Coco Vandeweghe in 2020
Draper won the 2007 NSW PGA Championship, his biggest golf title, dialling in a 20 under par score at the Riverside Oaks golf course, 60km north west of Sydney.
Barty is yet to make a call on her post-tennis plans, although the recent announcement that she will feature in golf’s ICONS series, around sports superstars like Tottenham forward Harry Kane and boxer Saul ‚Canelo‘ Alvarez, has fuelled speculation about a possible switch to the pro tour.
The 26-year-old has impressed golf coaches and players with her athletic swing, including Gary Barter, coach of Australian PGA tour winner Matt Jones.
Australian former Tennis star turned golf pro Scott Draper says Barty must start her professional golf journey if her passion for the sport is great enough
‚Her set-up is perfect. She has great dynamics already, which is really important for distance,‘ Barter said.
‚The positive is her awesome athletic motion, technique and mental side to compete.‘
In 2019, Ash Barty wowed 15-time major champion Tiger Woods at an exhibition tee-off where the two hit balls over the Yarra River, before the Presidents Cup at the Royal Melbourne golf club.
‚She’s got a great swing, are you kidding me?‘, Woods said.
The retired Tennis star added another accolade to her sporting resume at the start of April, winning the ladies competition at Brookwater golf club, 35 km south of Brisbane.
Australian golfer Scott Draper won the 2007 NSW PGA championship, hitting an insane low score of 20 under par – after retiring as a professional tennis player
The Queenslander was awarded with a first prize of $30, adding to her career winnings of US $23,829,071.
Barty met fiance Gary Kissick in 2016 at the Brookwater Golf Club, where he worked as a PGA trainee professional.
The two are often seen on Instagram playing a round, with Barty boasting a low handicap of four.
Twelve iconic American athletes like swimmer Michael Phelps and NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will take on Barty and the Rest of World team in the ICONS series starting June 30.