Ash Barty's code switch speculation runs wild after stunning feat
Ash Barty has sent the rumour mill into meltdown after winning a local golf tournament only a few weeks after announcing her shock retirement from tennis.
Barty created history earlier this year when she became the first Australian to win the Aus Open title since Chris O'Neil in 1978.
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However, the three-time grand slam winner and World No.1 announced her shock retirement from tennis after she claimed there were other goals she wanted to achieve in the next chapter of her life.
And, naturally, there has been speculation on what the wildly talented sport star would do after putting down the racquet.
Many suggested she might take up golf, considering her love for the game, and those rumours are growing after Barty won the ladies competition at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club on the weekend.
Barty, playing off a handicap of 4, hit a round of 34 to finish first in a field of five.
While the prize money, $30, may not reach the heights of her $31 million she banked during her illustrious tennis career, the win has again raised eyebrows.
Golf Australia even joked the WPGA Tour was the next step of the talented Aussie.
Next stop for @ashbarty, @WPGATour 🏌️♀️ https://t.co/2meSQG3jTj
— Golf Australia ⛳️ (@GolfAust) April 3, 2022
Ash Barty wins first title …golf event .
Guess @Simona_Halep was spot on. Congratulations @ashbarty what an unbelievably talented sport person you are! https://t.co/N6rRFFOSNq— DaNa (@DelsN) April 3, 2022
Wonderful to see Ash Barty taking on the world yet again, this time in golf. She won a tournament in Brisbane over the weekend. She is a natural talent in whatever she tries. Ashy, you go girl.
— Ayelbee (@ayelbee1) April 4, 2022
Imagine going to your local golf tournament and Ash Barty’s one of the competitors https://t.co/Fd8onHEf8t
— Sarah Black (@_sjblack) April 3, 2022
@BenRothenberg … I reckon you’ll like this. Pic of the sports results in my local Brisbane newspaper. Check out the second last line under Brookwater golf club.
Not the @MiamiOpen but Ash Barty is still winning … this being the ladies Saturday comp. pic.twitter.com/TlYocGT4LV— gjm (@gjm1508) April 3, 2022
This is great stuff, is their anything Ash Barty isn’t good at though? 😂
Professional cricketer, Retires from Tennis after a couple of years ranked number 1 with 3 majors and rolls around her local Golf Course with a handicap of 2.8! Handy https://t.co/fpuDvIdRWt— Brenton Alp (@BrentonAlp) April 3, 2022
Ash Barty impresses with golf skills
Barty has impressed with her golfing talents before.
Golf icon Tiger Woods once applauded the Aussies talent at a tournament in the Yarra Valley.
Barty crossed paths with the 15-time major winner before the Presidential Cup.
The Aussie showcased her swing in front of Woods at an event to open the tournament.
And Woods was left impressed.
"She's got a great swing, are you kidding me?" Woods said.
If Ash Barty can hit a wedge this smooth in front of Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, who were standing next to her here in Melbourne during the 2019 Presidents Cup, then she can win a Wimbledon final. Arguably more pressure here - arguably #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/BI5YDrsTjK
— Evin Priest (@EvinPriest) July 10, 2021
Barty has earned a staggering $31,920,112 across her tennis career, making her the 14th highest-earning female tennis player in history.
But while Barty revealed to reporters that a wedding date with fiancé Garry Kissick had been set, she remained coy on what her next professional move entailed.
Curiously, the 25-year-old's father Rob Barty - himself a former state amateur golfer like wife Josie - has fulled the speculation even further.
“She’s too good. She can beat me. She’s the best golfer in the house,” Rob Barty told AAP.
“She plays off a three handicap around Brookwater (in Brisbane) and plays a couple of times a year.
“I don’t know what she’s going to do to be honest, but I know she gets a lot of enjoyment out of golf so I think she’ll play (more).
“But I don’t know what she’ll do (professionally).”
with AAP
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