'I Had A Juggling Coach' – Pro Golfers Reveal Surprising Things About Themselves And Talk Superstitions
We asked a selection of professional golfers about their superstitions and to reveal one surprising thing people might not know about them...
We all know professional golfers possess an extraordinary amount of skill – you simply don't make it on tour unless you've spent most of your life dedicated to your craft. But what don't we know about them?
That was the question we asked a selection of DP World Tour and LPGA Tour Players, whether it be something about their personality or something they've got up to in the past that sticks in the mind...
Garrick Higgo: “I almost burnt down a golf course when I was young. We were playing with firelighters.”
Mel Reid: “I used to have a juggling coach."
Erik van Rooyen: “I enjoy gardening and playing the guitar, which I've done since I was 14. I love rock and roll.”
Georgia Hall: “I have two tattoos.”
Richard Mansell: “I’m not related to Nigel Mansell!”
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Dan Bradbury: “I have coeliac disease, meaning I must eat gluten-free food.”
Jorge Campillo: “I like collecting things like Tintin.”
Marcus Armitage: “I’m boring [laughs].”
Joost Luiten: “I was a ski jumper when I was ten years old. There aren’t many of those in Holland!”
George Coetzee: “I really enjoy snooker.”
Michael Stewart: “I’m an expert forklift driver.”
Gemma Dryburgh: “I live in New Orleans. That’s unusual for a professional golfer, but I went to university there and I absolutely loved it.”
Wayne Riley: "I was a state champion swimmer!"
Do you have any golfing superstitions?
Richard Mansell: “I have to listen to Mob Ties by Drake as the last song before I go to the tee. It really gets me going.”
Ewen Ferguson: “I use a Puma marker that matches my Puma outfits out on tour.”
Oli Wilson: “I don’t like using Callaway balls with the number 3 or 4 on them.”
Mike Lorenzo-Vera: “Not so much anymore, but I used to only play with white tees.”
Alex Fitzpatrick: “I don’t have any superstitions, but I’m very particular about where stuff goes in my golf bag.”
Tony Johnston: “I have plenty. No ball number higher than a 4. I’ve used the same type of ball marker for 40 years. And I love playing on Friday 13th.”
Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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