Golfers Who Reel: 6 Enthusiasts Balancing Golf with a Love for Fishing | Bass Angler Magazine
It’s no wonder why golfers and fishermen have so much in common: both sports require patience, concentration, skill, and dedication.
For those of us who love to hit the links as well as head out on the boat for a day of fishing, it may come as a shock to discover some of our favourite professional golfers share this passion. Both hobbies are certainly acquired tastes, with golf being perceived as a high-class sport designed for the super-rich and fishing being the working man’s pastime.
As such, it may come as a surprise then to see that there is plenty of crossover between the two realms. Here are six men who love dipping their toes – or rods, if you will – in both.
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth has made headlines with his phenomenal golfing abilities, and he’s also an enthusiastic fisherman. He enjoys using a fly rod to target trout and bass, while also sharing his fishing experiences on social media. In an interview with Golf Digest, Spieth expressed his love for fishing and how it offers him a great escape from work and golf.
The young Texan golfer has a passion for a long day with his rod in the drink almost enough to rival his golf game. He’s been known to plan his tournament schedules around his fishing trips and has even been quoted as saying that he would give up golf for fishing if he had to choose. Spieth’s favourite fish to catch is bass, and he even brought his fishing gear with him to the British Open in 2015.
Over the last decade or so, the 30-year-old has become one of the biggest names on the tour. He has three major titles to his name already, with two of them – and almost a third – coming in a blockbuster 2015.
He first romped to glory in that year’s Masters tournament, finishing four strokes clear of Phil Mickelson to win the Green Jacket and pocket the cool $1.8m that comes with it. Just two months later, he would claim back-to-back majors when he won the US Open, managing to successfully keep it together down the back nine to finish just one stroke clear of Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.
Barely a month on from that and he looked on course to make it three majors from three however, Australia’s Jason Day eventually picked up the victory at the PGA Championship.
Furthermore, as 2024 rolls around, Speith will be one of the favorites for glory once more. Bovada sportsbook’s golf odds have already priced up April’s Augusta Masters and the Texan contender is a +2000 eighth-favorite. He will be hoping to replicate the form he displayed nine years prior and secure another Green Jacket.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is known for his incredible golfing skills, but he’s also an avid angler. Woods has spoken highly about fishing, saying that it has been a part of his life since he was a child. He has revealed that fishing helps him unwind and focus on things other than golf. Just like Speith, Tiger is a perennial contender. However, unlike the aforementioned Texan, this man is perhaps the finest golfer that’s ever lived.
Over the years, the 47-year-old has won 15 majors, just two behind fellow American Jack Nicklaus in the all-time rankings. He was the star of the show throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, winning title after title and pocketing tens of millions of dollars in prize money in the process. A slew of both professional and personal issues derailed his career, but he would return to prominence with victory at the 2019 Masters in one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.
Davis Love III
Apart from his success on the golf course, Davis Love III has also proven to be an accomplished fisherman. He enjoys saltwater fly fishing and has been lucky enough to hook some big gamefish. Love III has even participated in fishing tournaments such as the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland.
Rickie Fowler
During his downtime, Rickie Fowler can be found on the water fishing for a variety of species. He’s even been known to compete in fishing events, such as the Guy Harvey Outpost Extreme Tournament. Fowler has stated that fishing provides him with a sense of tranquillity, and he also enjoys camaraderie among fellow anglers.
Dustin Johnson
The former world number one is a big fan of fishing. He’s often been seen posing with his trophy catches on his social media accounts. In fact, his love of fishing was even a theme in his wedding to Paulina Gretzky. Johnson and Gretzky have taken trips to tropical islands like Bora Bora, where he goes after marlins and sailfish. But he doesn’t just fish on vacation- Johnson has competed in fishing tournaments too.
Greg Norman
The legendary Australian golfer and longtime resident of Florida is an avid fisherman. He’s known to have a boat that is over 100 feet long, which he uses to catch tuna, sailfish, and marlin. Norman has also hosted his own fishing show called “Hooked Up with Greg Norman” on The Outdoor Channel, where he showcases his fishing skills to audiences worldwide.
