Peter Odemwingie is now a professional PGA golfer with the former Premier League striker targeting a spot in the senior tour after starting the sport during his time at West Brom.
Peter Odemwingie, a former Premier League and Nigeria football star, has successfully transitioned into a professional golfer on the PGA tour following the conclusion of his illustrious football career.
Odemwingie, aged 42, represented various top-flight Premier League clubs, such as West Brom, Cardiff City, and Stoke City. It was during his tenure at the Hawthorns that Odemwingie first got involved in golf. This was also the club where he infamously arrived at QPR’s training ground in 2013 in an attempt to finalize a late January transfer, only for the deal to fall through. “I began playing towards the end of my time at West Brom because some of the lads were into it, and I could see how much they enjoyed it,” Odemwingie shared with the PGA website.
On Tuesdays after practice, they used to head out to play golf, chatting about it with their golf equipment in tow. I couldn’t quite grasp it though, as the golf jargon was unlike anything else.
During one of the pre-season training trips with West Brom, Roy Hodgson brought us to a golf resort where people were practicing putting and playing full rounds on their days off. I happened to be walking by the range, so I decided to give hitting some balls a shot. Despite wearing slippers, I managed to hit a few shots and was captivated by the sound and sight of the ball flying. The downhill slope helped the ball carry further, and that’s when I realized, ‘Hmm, there might be something to this golf thing’.
After completing his football career with Madura United in Indonesia in 2018, Odemwingie pursued the Professional Golf Studies program at the University of Birmingham and successfully graduated last month. The former striker aims to serve as an inspiration to others. “I take pride in challenging myself not only in sports but also academically,” Odemwingie stated. “I aspire for my journey to motivate individuals to pursue similar paths, whether it be through The PGA or any other educational pursuit.
“The program demands dedication to complete. I’ve heard of individuals giving up midway due to the workload and pressure involved. It was a tough journey, but I believe the resilience I gained from football played a significant role. There were moments during my career when I faced goal droughts and went months without scoring, but perseverance is key – sometimes you just have to push through.”
Odemwingie has set his sights on competing in the senior PGA Tour. “I have my sights firmly set on the future of the senior tour because I truly believe that I have what it takes to be a player,” he shared.
“Golf is a sport that allows us to have a long career, and if we take care of our health, we can play for many years, just like the legendary Gary Player. I hope that when I’m older and have a head full of grey hair, I’ll have an amazing story to tell about my golfing journey.”
In addition to his skills in golf and football, Odemwingie possesses other talents as well. Notably, he showcases his singing and guitar-playing abilities on TikTok. With nearly 50,000 followers on the platform, he shares captivating golf content alongside his musical endeavors.
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