Royals duo to join world's top golfers in Wentworth Pro-Am
Sportsdesk • Published 12 May 2012 10:30
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FRESH from playing their part in the club's recent promotion to the Premier League, Reading FC midfielder Jay Tabb and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will swap their football boots for their golf shoes to take part in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am, held at Wentworth Club on Wednesday May 23.
The keen golfers, who both play off a handicap of six, showed they were almost as adept on the golf course as the football field when they were filmed earlier in the season for the Sky Sports Football League Weekend show's 'longest drive competition'.
The duo will be joined in their four-ball by Liverpool's current manager, Kenny Dalglish, and one of The European Tour's leading professionals for the traditional curtain-raiser to the €4.5million BMW PGA Championship, where England's Luke Donald will defend the title he won in dramatic fashion last year.
Dalglish will be joined at the famous Surrey venue by Alan Hansen, his former Liverpool team-mate and a current pundit on BBC TV's 'Match of the Day'.
Chelsea head coach Roberto Di Matteo will also be taking part in the Pro-Am, just four days after what he hopes will be a historic night in the Allianz Arena where the Blues will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Other sporting stars scheduled to tee up on the iconic West Course include Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, ex-England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright, Olympic silver medal-winning athlete Kriss Akabusi and former tennis star Tim Henman.
The rowing knights Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave - who between them won a total of nine Olympic gold medals - will also be in attendance along with another knight of the realm, Sir Clive Woodward.
Rugby World Cup 2003 winner Matt Dawson, who finished runner-up in 'Strictly Come Dancing' in 2006, will play alongside one of the show's judges, Len Goodman; while host Sir Bruce Forsyth, who lives on the Wentworth Estate, will not have far to travel to tee up in the Pro-Am.
Chris Evans and Vernon Kay will also play along with their fellow TV and radio presenters Andrew Cotter and Steve Ryder.
Jamie Birkmyre, Director of Championship Management for the BMW PGA Championship and a Reading season ticket holder, said: "We are delighted that so many stars from the worlds of sport and TV will be competing alongside some of the world's leading golfers in the Pro-Am, which is always a great day for the celebrities and also for the people who come along to watch them play in a relaxed, informal environment.
"As a Reading supporter, I'm thrilled that two of our heroes from this season will be joining us, and I look forward to reliving some of the highlights from our successful promotion campaign with them."
The Pro-Am, which will feature the top three in the Official World Golf Ranking in Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, gets underway at 8am on Wednesday May 23, with the afternoon groups set to tee off at 1pm.
Advance tickets for the Pro-Am cost £8 and can be bought at www.europeantourtickets.com
Advance tickets for the tournament days can also be bought online, with Adult One Day Tickets priced at £30, Weekend Tickets at £45 and Season Tickets at £60. Go to europeantour.com.
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