ADVERTISEMENT

Golf in St Andrews is more terrifying than performing, says former Boyzone star Ronan Keating | DailyExpertNews

152
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
ADVERTISEMENT




DailyExpertNews

Hand Ronan Keating a microphone and send him on stage to win over a sold-out stadium crowd, and the Irishman is the personification of relaxation.

But give him a driver and plant him on the first tee for some golf fans in St Andrews, and the former Boyzone star becomes a ball of terror.

He’s sold millions of records, performed for the Pope and British royalty, but for Keating, playing the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Pro-Am tournament at the storied Scottish venue is a very different beast.

“Chalk and cheese, two different worlds. Even during the practice round I rattled the first one [tee]’ he told DailyExpertNews’s The Jazzy Golfer, during the tournament in October.

“Having a crowd of people following the pro you play with is the most nerve-racking experience. There is nothing that comes close.”

However, don’t confuse nerves with a lack of ability.

Keating has been an avid golfer for over 30 years, playing at a handicap of 11 – the same number of appearances as the famous Pro-Am.

Born and raised in Dublin, the young singer’s sporting achievements initially revolved around the native sports Gaelic football and hurling.

Keating never thought much about golf until his brothers returned from college in the US.

His siblings studied in upstate New York and worked part-time as caddies on some of the region’s most prestigious golf courses, including the six-time US Open Winged Foot Golf Club.

And after being given clubs by his brothers, Keating has rarely been seen without a set since.

Even as Boyzone became popular worldwide in the mid-1990s, followed by an equally successful solo career at the turn of the century, the fairways remained a constant refuge for Keating amid the demands of pop star life.

“If I could do anything else in my life as a job, it would be a professional golfer,” Keating said.

“It gives me freedom, it gives me peace of mind, it gives me something to focus on, away from other things.

“For your mental health, something like golf is a great thing… it’s incredible to be able to clear your head like that.

“Go out and hit a ball, forget all your problems, everything that happens, work, stress. It gives me peace.”

Keating (center left) on stage with Boyzone during a performance at London's 02 Arena in 2008.

Keating has had only one golf idol: Gary Player.

It’s said that you should never meet your heroes, but for Keating, encounters with the nine-time major winner have only increased the golfer’s legendary status.

Since 2018, the couple has hosted an annual fundraising event in Player’s native South Africa, with this year’s effort raising money for sick and marginalized children in the country.

Part of the event saw Keating and Player play the same hole 18 times, once with each four-ball group that came through, but the experience was anything but monotonous.

“I just stood there for five hours with one of the greatest golfers of all time,” said Keating.

“We laughed and we told stories, it was just incredible – one of my favorite moments in this game.

“He’s the nicest man in the world, he’s like all of our fathers… he was clearly an incredible golfer, but he’s still an incredible golfer and an incredible man.”

Player greets Keating at the Gary Player Invitational at Wentworth Golf Club, England in 2013.

Though a three-time Open champion, Player never lifted the claret pitcher at St Andrews, and Keating is still chasing his own personal triumph on the Old Course.

Prior to this year’s tee-off, Keating was determined to play without expectation for the first time in 11 games at the event.

“I put so much pressure on myself to play well and it’s ridiculous. Why would I do that? I’m not doing this for a living,” he said.

“I’m here as a guest and I’m supposed to have fun, so I’m going to try that this year.”

Aim low, reach high. Along with Scottish golfer Connor Syme, Keating channeled his inner player to take a very impressive fifth-place finish.

Syme and Keating pose on the famous Swilcan Bridge.

Six-shot trailing winners Callum Shinkwin and American art dealer Alex Acquavella, the duo led most of a star-studded field, beating Rory and Gerry’s father-son McIlroy pairing with one shot.

But for Keating, St Andrews himself was the real winner.

While the Pro-Am revolves around two other iconic Scottish links courses during the week, in Carnoustie and Kingsbarns respectively, Keating has a soft spot for the ‘home of golf’.

“Kingsbarns is the prettiest and most picturesque, but St Andrews is so special,” he said.

“It’s just a remarkable place – the landscape, the golf course, the history. It’s a real privilege to have the chance to play.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?