CNN
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Give Ronan Keating a microphone and ship him out on stage to woo a sold-out stadium crowd, and the Irishman is rest personified.
However hand him a driver and plant him on the primary tee in entrance of a smattering of golf followers at St. Andrews, and the previous Boyzone star turns into a ball of tension.
He’s offered hundreds of thousands of data, carried out in entrance of the Pope and British royalty, however for Keating, taking part in the annual Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Professional-Am event on the legendary Scottish venue is a completely totally different beast.
“Chalk and cheese, two totally different worlds. Even on the follow spherical, I used to be rattling off the primary [tee],” he informed CNN’s The Jazzy Golfer, on the event in October.
“While you’ve obtained a crowd of individuals following the professional that you just’re taking part in with, it’s the most nerve-wracking expertise. There’s nothing that comes shut.”
Nevertheless, don’t mistake nerves for an absence of capability.
An avid golfer of over 30 years, Keating performs off a handicap of 11 – the identical variety of appearances he has made on the famend Professional-Am.
Born and raised in Dublin, the younger singer’s sporting exploits initially revolved across the native sports activities of Gaelic soccer and hurling.
Keating had by no means given golf a lot thought till his brothers returned from school within the US.
Finding out in upstate New York, his siblings had labored part-time as caddies on among the area’s most prestigious programs, together with six-time US Open venue Winged Foot Golf Membership.
And after being handed golf equipment by his brothers, Keating has not often been seen with no set since.
Whilst Boyzone surged to world recognition by means of the mid Nineties, adopted by a equally profitable solo profession on the flip of the century, the fairways remained a relentless sanctuary for Keating amid the calls for of life as a pop star.
“If I may do anything in my life as a job, it could be to be an expert golfer,” Keating stated.
“It provides me freedom, it provides me peace of thoughts, it provides me one thing to give attention to away from different issues.
“On your psychological well being, one thing like golf is a superb factor … it’s unimaginable to have the ability to clear your head like that.
“Exit and hit a ball, neglect about all of your troubles, something that’s happening, work, stress. It provides me peace of thoughts.”
Keating has solely ever had one {golfing} idol: Gary Participant.
It’s stated it’s best to by no means meet your heroes, however for Keating, encounters with the nine-time main winner have solely enhanced the golfer’s legendary standing.
Since 2018, the pair have staged an annual fundraising occasion in Participant’s native South Africa, with this yr’s effort in March elevating cash for sick and marginalized youngsters within the nation.
A part of the occasion noticed Keating and Participant play the identical gap 18 occasions, as soon as with every four-ball group that got here by means of, however the expertise was something however monotonous.
“I simply stood there for 5 hours with one of many best golfers of all-time,” Keating stated.
“We laughed and we informed tales, it was simply unbelievable – one in every of my favourite moments on this recreation.
“He’s the nicest man on the planet, he’s like all of our dads … he was an unimaginable golfer clearly, however he’s nonetheless an unimaginable golfer and an unimaginable man.”
Although a three-time Open champion, Participant by no means lifted the claret jug at St. Andrews, and Keating continues to be chasing his personal private triumph on the Previous Course.
Forward of this yr’s tee-off, Keating was decided to play with out expectation for the primary time in 11 outings on the occasion.
“I put a lot stress on myself to play effectively and it’s ridiculous. Why would I try this? I don’t do that for a residing,” he stated.
“I’m right here as a visitor and I’m alleged to get pleasure from myself, so I’m going attempt to try this this yr.”
Purpose low, obtain excessive. Paired with Scottish golfer Connor Syme, Keating channeled his inner-Participant to file a highly-impressive fifth-placed end.
Trailing winners Callum Shinkwin and American artwork supplier Alex Acquavella by six pictures, the duo led the vast majority of a star-studded subject, and pipped the father-son McIlroy pairing of Rory and Gerry by a shot.
However for Keating, the actual winner was St. Andrews itself.
Whereas the Professional-Am rotates round two different iconic Scottish hyperlinks programs through the week, in Carnoustie and Kingsbarns respectively, Keating has a mushy spot for the proclaimed “residence of golf.”
“Kingsbarns is probably the most lovely and picturesque, however St. Andrews is so particular,” he stated.
“It’s only a outstanding place – the surroundings, the golf course, the historical past. To get the prospect to play it’s a actual privilege.”
