Andy Murray tries his hand at golf against Rory McIlroy

Murray said he felt a different type of nerves while competing at the BMW Championship

Andy Murray Image Credit: Valentina Claret / Panoramic

September 19, 2024

Andy Murray may be retired from tennis now, but he hasn’t left the sporting arena entirely.

This week, the former world No 1 swapped his tennis racquet for a set of golf clubs, and took to the greens of the BMW Championship in Wentworth alongside the likes of four-time major champion Rory McIlroy.

The Brit confessed to feeling nervous as he competed in the tournament that sees professionals play alongside amateurs.

“It’s a different sort of nerves (to Wimbledon) because you are comfortable in the tennis environment,” Murray explained after day one of the event that saw him partnered up with Scottish golfing legend Robert MacIntyre. “I’m not thinking I’m going to walk out on the tennis court and forget how to hit the ball, you just want to perform well.”

“Whereas here, you’re sort of nervous about there’s people standing like five metres away from where I’m driving, and I’m like, I’m useless at this game. You just want to try and keep the ball in play and don’t mess up too much.

“I’m happy playing in front of nobody, to be honest. I’ve obviously got a lot of free time just now, so playing a few times a week, having lessons and just enjoying having something to focus my attention on.”

MacIntyre gave a glowing review of Murray, saying the three-time Grand Slam champion would be “at scratch in no time”.

Murray reveals post-retirement weight loss

Speaking to media at the event, Murray also revealed that he has lost weight since retiring from tennis after the Olympics in July.

“I went to the gym three of the first four days after I stopped, worked really hard, and then went up to Scotland for a couple of days for a holiday, and haven’t been back since,” he said.

“It’s been five weeks I’ve not been in the gym, longest ever for me probably. I don’t know if it’s like appetite if I’m not eating as much, but we obviously have like loads of the sport drinks have got lot of calories in them, and I only really drink water and coffee now.

“So I don’t know, I think just less calories and probably loss of muscle. I’ve lost about 11, 12 pounds. It’s a lot. I was expecting the opposite to happen. It’s about five kilos.”