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Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Golf has caught the fancy of sports stars across various disciplines. Players have hit the greens to take a break from monotony of their schedules, a few of them going on to take up the sport professionally after retirement.
From Ivan Lendl to Yevgeny Kafelnikov and the great Shane Warne, many celebrated sportsmen have taken to golf in a bid to look for alternate careers after hanging their boots. The latest in a long list is Michael Phelps.
Here's a look at some leading sportsmen to hit the greens.
One of cricket's most famous all-rounders, Kapil Dev spends more of his time on the golf course these days. Time and again he has confessed that the greenery of the golf course can get anyone hooked to the sport.
India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain even has stake in the Dev-Ellora Chandigarh team, which is part of the city-based IPL-like contest in golf.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Graeme Smith, the captain of South Africa's cricket team, and former team wicketkeeper Mark Boucher during a game of golf at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club in Lahore, Pakistan.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Shane Warne was spotted on the golf course much before he showed his affectionate side towards British actress and model Elizabeth Hurley.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs plays a shot as the South African cricket team relax with a round of golf.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
There is tremendous pressure on a coach in a cricket-crazy nation like India. And Duncan Fletcher really knows how to rejuvenate.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Rafael Nadal revealed in his autobiography Rafa: My Story that he contemplated a future in golf after suffering a career-threatening injury in 2005.
The Spanish tennis ace, a 11-time Grand Slam champion, plans to become a professional golfer once his tennis career is over.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius too swapped his racing blades for the golf clubs recently.
The South African sprinter -- the first double leg amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes at the London Olympics – is trying his hand at amateur golf.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, is not far behind in displaying his love for golf.
The 18-time gold medal winner showed he has the class to excel on the greens too when he upstaged some of golf's finest players at the Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month.
One question: is there anything that Phelps doesn't excel at?
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Tennis world No. 2 Novak Djokovic turned to golf to nurse his wounds after he lost the 2012 Wimbledon semi-final to the eventual winner, Roger Federer.
Playing golf is not a usual reaction after losing, but the Serbian did that with an immediate effect.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Wayne Rooney is best-known for his goal scoring skills for England and Manchester United. But switching his scoring boots for golf clubs should not be too difficult as he comes across as a keen golfer.
Whether it's kicking-off or teeing-off, Rooney is the man to watch out for.
Photos: Putt naturally, golf glamour for these sportsmen!
Tennis superstar Roger Federer has re-ignited the debate: is he the greatest ever?
As the Swiss reclaimed the top ranking, he effectively pointed out that still has years at the top and will be looking to build his legacy stronger.
Federer's love and admiration for golf does not end with his association and friendship with golf great Tiger Woods. He once famously admitted that golf was much like tennis and reflected how the sport is 'relaxing and rewarding'.