Michael Phelps, seen here at a promotional event in China in 2010, has been learning to play golf since his retirement from swimming.
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Michael Phelps, seen here at a promotional event in China in 2010, has been learning to play golf since his retirement from swimming.
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Phelps, who won a record 18 gold medals in Olympic competition, has been working with the former coach of golf superstar Tiger Woods (right).
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Phelps, who won a record 18 gold medals in Olympic competition, has been working with the former coach of golf superstar Tiger Woods (right).
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Hank Haney helped Woods to win six major championships in six years before they split in 2010.
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Hank Haney helped Woods to win six major championships in six years before they split in 2010.
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Haney has been tutoring Phelps as part of his TV show The Haney Project.
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Haney has been tutoring Phelps as part of his TV show The Haney Project.
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"It's a game that I enjoy and a game that's exciting," Phelps told CNN. "I definitely want to get a lot better. I'm getting better, but not as good as I want to be."
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
"It's a game that I enjoy and a game that's exciting," Phelps told CNN. "I definitely want to get a lot better. I'm getting better, but not as good as I want to be."
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"When I'm on the road I'm out there a lot, because it's hard to play in Baltimore right now," he said. "When the weather starts getting good it's probably going to be three or four times a week."
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
"When I'm on the road I'm out there a lot, because it's hard to play in Baltimore right now," he said. "When the weather starts getting good it's probably going to be three or four times a week."
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Phelps embarked on his golfing challenge following the London 2012 Olympics. He was a guest speaker at the opening ceremony for the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah in September, where the U.S. suffered a dramatic last-day defeat against Europe in golf's premier teams event.
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Phelps embarked on his golfing challenge following the London 2012 Olympics. He was a guest speaker at the opening ceremony for the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah in September, where the U.S. suffered a dramatic last-day defeat against Europe in golf's premier teams event.
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Phelps poses with Paralympic running champion Oscar Pistorius after they both lose their ball during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship pro-am at Kingsbarns in Scotland in October 2012.
Michael Phelps' golfing ambitions —
Phelps poses with Paralympic running champion Oscar Pistorius after they both lose their ball during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship pro-am at Kingsbarns in Scotland in October 2012.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Haney, meanwhile, is no longer coaching tour pros. His focus is on his<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ijga.com%2Findex.php" target="_blank" target="_blank"> International Junior Golf Academy</a>, public clinics and corporate work.
Haney's next move —
Haney, meanwhile, is no longer coaching tour pros. His focus is on his International Junior Golf Academy, public clinics and corporate work.
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Haney, who has also worked with former basketball star Charles Barkley (pictured) on his TV show, says Phelps faces a tough challenge to become a top golfer.
Hoop dreams —
Haney, who has also worked with former basketball star Charles Barkley (pictured) on his TV show, says Phelps faces a tough challenge to become a top golfer.
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Babe Didrikson Zaharias is the most successful athlete to have taken up golf after other sporting careers. She was a double Olympic gold medalist in track and field in 1932 and also played softball and basketball before becoming one of the most famous golfers in the world. Didrikson won her 10th and final major a month after cancer surgery and was still a leading player when she died aged just 45.
All-round excellence —
Babe Didrikson Zaharias is the most successful athlete to have taken up golf after other sporting careers. She was a double Olympic gold medalist in track and field in 1932 and also played softball and basketball before becoming one of the most famous golfers in the world. Didrikson won her 10th and final major a month after cancer surgery and was still a leading player when she died aged just 45.
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Another American, Ellsworth Vines, was the world's top-ranked men's tennis player on several occasions during the 1930s but had less success when he turned to golf. He did, however, win two state tournaments in the U.S.
Tennis to golf —
Another American, Ellsworth Vines, was the world's top-ranked men's tennis player on several occasions during the 1930s but had less success when he turned to golf. He did, however, win two state tournaments in the U.S.
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Pioneering tennis player Althea Gibson followed in the footsteps of boxer Joe Louis when she became the first black woman to play on the LPGA Tour in the U.S. in 1964. Louis was the first black man to play on the PGA Tour 12 years earlier. Gibson won 11 grand slam singles and doubles titles on the court, but her best finish as a golf pro was a tie for second at an LPGA event in Ohio in 1970.
Role models —
Pioneering tennis player Althea Gibson followed in the footsteps of boxer Joe Louis when she became the first black woman to play on the LPGA Tour in the U.S. in 1964. Louis was the first black man to play on the PGA Tour 12 years earlier. Gibson won 11 grand slam singles and doubles titles on the court, but her best finish as a golf pro was a tie for second at an LPGA event in Ohio in 1970.
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Rick Rhoden was a top-level baseball pitcher for 15 years before turning to golf when he retired in 1989. He has had three top-10 finishes on the U.S. Champions Tour and is a leading money winner on the celebrity circuit. Another MLB star, Sammy Byrd, won six PGA Tour events between 1942-46 and is the only man to have played in both the World Series and the Masters.
Baseball to golf —
Rick Rhoden was a top-level baseball pitcher for 15 years before turning to golf when he retired in 1989. He has had three top-10 finishes on the U.S. Champions Tour and is a leading money winner on the celebrity circuit. Another MLB star, Sammy Byrd, won six PGA Tour events between 1942-46 and is the only man to have played in both the World Series and the Masters.
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Three-time Super Bowl winner Jerry Rice (pictured) played on the second-tier U.S. Nationwide Tour in 2010, but missed the cut in his only appearance. The most successful NFL player in golf is John Brodie, who competed in the U.S. Open in 1959 and 1981, and won one title on the Senior PGA Tour in 1991.
NFL to golf —
Three-time Super Bowl winner Jerry Rice (pictured) played on the second-tier U.S. Nationwide Tour in 2010, but missed the cut in his only appearance. The most successful NFL player in golf is John Brodie, who competed in the U.S. Open in 1959 and 1981, and won one title on the Senior PGA Tour in 1991.
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Former tennis star Andy Roddick played in February's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. "In tennis, on my worst day I still knew what I was doing. Here, probably half the people in the stands could hit a ball better than I could," said Roddick, a six-handicapper.
Reality check —
Former tennis star Andy Roddick played in February's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. "In tennis, on my worst day I still knew what I was doing. Here, probably half the people in the stands could hit a ball better than I could," said Roddick, a six-handicapper.
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