As if it weren\u2019t enough for Andriy Shevchenko to be one of the most talented footballers of the modern era, a player who was once named European Footballer of the Year; it seems he is a dab hand with the old hickory in his hands as well!<\/p>\n
Shevchenko, who owns a home in the exclusive Wentworth Estate and is a member of Wentworth Golf Club, will make his debut on the Challenge Tour this week, at the Kharkov Superior Cup, which takes place in his native Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Although Shevchenko plays to a tidy handicap of 2 at Wentworth, it was by special invitation that he gained his place in the field in Ukraine this week. The ex-AC Milan and Chelsea striker was invited to the event by the President of the Superior Golf & Spa Resort and will face off against the likes of former Ryder Cup star Oliver Wilson and three-time Tour winner Nick Dougherty.<\/p>\n[youtube width=”600″ height=”338″ video_id=”VS_H-DoBgDo”]\n
Of course, Shevchenko hitting the fairways with the golfing elite this week isn\u2019t the only link football has had to golf over the years. \u00a0We all know footballers like to play during their time away from the training ground so we wondered who else in the professional football world was handy with a mashie niblick in their hands. Here\u2019s our list of footballers who play golf…<\/p>\n
Apparently securing a job in Match of the Day isn\u2019t just about being a well known retired footballer. With three of the current presenters playing of single figures, golfing ability seems to come into the picture as well.<\/p>\n
In 1972, Hansen was first reserve for the Scottish Boys team and has been as low as 1.7 which, let\u2019s face it, it a lot better than most golfers will ever be!<\/p>\n
A regular at Hillside \u2013 the course with \u201cthe best back nine in Britain\u201d according to Greg Norman \u2013 and a familiar face at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships, Hansen now plays off three and says his favourite golf holiday destination is Pebble Beach.<\/p>\n
A member of Sunningdale with a handicap of 5, Mr Walkers Crisps is a classy golfer. Lineker has confessed to having a solid short game \u2013 reminiscent of his football career…always good from 2 yards out \u2013 and little to no natural ability that is combated by lots of lessons.<\/p>\n
With rounds at Augusta National, Pinehurst and Cypress Point under his belt, Lineker might not have the best handicap among the footballers, but his golf bucketlist seems to have plenty of ticks on it!<\/p>\n
Like Messrs Hansen and Lineker, Alan Shearer also boasts an impressive handicap. Playing off 6, it appears the Geordie hero is almost as lethal with a 7 iron in his hand as he was in front of goal.<\/p>\n
With a reported handicap of either scratch or +1 \u2013 he can\u2019t remember which \u2013 at the exclusive Wisley Golf Club in Surrey, Jimmy Bullard is clearly a handy golfer. In fact, Bullard has even tried to launch a career on the fairways – similarly former world number one tennis player\u00a0Yevgeny Kafelnikov has done so as well<\/a> – by attempting to qualify for the PGA EuroPro Tour.<\/p>\n Currently with \u00a30 in winnings to his name, it seems as good a golfer as Jimmy might be, he might just fall short when it comes to mixing it with the big boys on tour!<\/p>\nJamie Redknapp <\/h6>\n