Rooney, Bale may play in 2017 golf competition in S'pore

Rooney, Bale may play in 2017 golf competition in S'pore

It may be two years away but the buzz is already building for a unique golf tournament which will see some of the biggest names in football taking a swing on Singapore's fairways and greens.

Initially scheduled for last month, the Icons of Football competition will instead tee off in June 2017, with organisers vowing to field a star-studded line-up at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

It is believed that Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, Real Madrid star Gareth Bale and Bayern Munich sensation Thomas Mueller are among those in talks to play at the Ryder-Cup style event.

The Straits Times reported in April that the four-day event was set to debut here but scheduling conflicts led to its postponement.

It is organised by British-based company Worldwide Sports & Entertainment, which also runs the star-studded Icons Cup in Dubai that featured the likes of basketball great Ray Allen and 11-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater.

"The event in Singapore will be worth the wait - it's a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on high-profile footballers and see how they perform on a golf course," WWSE founder Thomas Brookes said at a press conference at the Shangri-La Hotel yesterday.

"The players will be miked up so fans can hear their comments and reactions from hole to hole."

Also set to take part in foursomes and singles action here are former Ballon d'Or winners Luis Figo and Andriy Shevchenko, and ex-Argentinian hotshot Gabriel Batistuta.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka hopes he has done enough to earn a spot on the England team who will take on a Rest of the World line-up.

The England international, who plays off an eight handicap, joined team-mates like Tom Cleverley and John Stones for a rain-disrupted round at TMCC yesterday. "I love golf as much as I do football," said Jagielka, 32, who is here with Everton for the Barclays Asia Trophy.

"I hope to be selected for the Icons of Football event because it gives me another reason to return to Singapore."


This article was first published on July 17, 2015.
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