Tennis Legend Ash Barty Tees Off at NZ Open Pro-Am

When you've conquered Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open before turning 26, what's next? For Ash Barty, it's dusting off her golf clubs for a fun return to another sport she loves.

The retired tennis superstar will play in the New Zealand Open pro-am at Millbrook Resort this week, partnering with DP World Tour player Anthony Quayle. Barty retired from tennis in 2022 to focus on her young family, and she's been refreshingly honest about her golf prep.

"I've played two rounds of golf in two years so the form is pretty scarce," the 29-year-old admitted with a laugh. Despite the lack of practice, Barty still plays off an impressive handicap of four.

Her playing partner Quayle isn't buying the modest talk. He watched Barty sink eight putts in a row with her custom Wimbledon Odyssey putter during warm-ups. "I don't know what you're talking about," he told her. "You could be a bit of an over-achiever here."

Barty will be in good company at the $1.69 million tournament. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater headlines the celebrity field, alongside Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting, New Zealand cricket great Stephen Fleming, and former All Blacks stars Jeff Wilson and Israel Dagg.

The NZ Open pro-am has grown into an event that now draws comparisons with the iconic celebrity tournaments at Pebble Beach and St Andrews. These events bring together professional golfers and sports legends for a relaxed competition that showcases both skill and sportsmanship.

Why This Inspires

Barty's story reminds us that retirement from one dream doesn't mean giving up on joy. She walked away from tennis at the peak of her career to prioritize family, showing that success looks different for everyone. Now she's trying new challenges without the pressure of perfection, approaching golf with humor and zero stress.

Her authenticity stands out in a world of carefully curated athlete personas. Admitting she's rusty, joking about having "no demons" because she hasn't played enough to develop bad habits, Barty shows confidence comes from being comfortable with where you are, not pretending to be flawless.

The fact that elite athletes from tennis, surfing, and cricket are gathering for the love of another sport shows the universal language of athletic passion. These champions aren't competing for rankings or records this week. They're simply enjoying the beauty of Millbrook Resort and the camaraderie of the game.

Barty reached out to Quayle personally a couple months ago to arrange the partnership, and everything fell into place naturally. Sometimes the best moments happen when we stop overthinking and just show up ready to have fun.

For someone who achieved everything in tennis before 26, Barty's next chapter is about balance, family, and rediscovering old loves without pressure.