McIlroy, Lamborghini and Bugatti 'Speed Enthusiasts'
Polter, Ferrari and Aston Martin 'Collectors'
Rider slicing through the wind with Eizinger and Love III
Watson makes headlines buying 37 cars over 12 years
Golf is one of the most stressful sports. The challenge against not only oneself but also nature makes it even tougher. When focusing on every single shot, the energy expenditure is tremendous. This is why tour players avoid participating in more than three consecutive tournaments. For this reason, a break to clear the mind and refresh is essential. Golf stars gain new energy through supercars.
◆Relieve Stress= Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is a ‘simple country boy’ on the field but transforms into a ‘speed enthusiast’ when behind the wheel. Before marrying Erica in 2017, he enjoyed solo drives in Hollywood, USA as a hobby.
In 2013, a photo of him riding a Ferrari F430 with his ex-girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) became a hot topic. Ferrari produced over 15,000 F430s from 2004 to 2009. The Ferrari F430 is equipped with a 4.3ℓ V8 engine delivering up to 490 horsepower and 465Nm of torque at 5250rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 315 km/h.
His most cherished ‘ride’ is the Lamborghini Aventador, a mid-sized super sports car from Lamborghini. It features a 12-cylinder V12 engine with a 6.5ℓ capacity, producing up to 690 horsepower and 689Nm of torque. It uses a semi-automatic single-clutch transmission and a 7-speed automatic gearbox. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 354 km/h. Besides Lamborghini, McIlroy owns some of the fastest cars in the world, including a Bugatti (top speed 449 km/h), Ferrari F12, BMW i8, and Range Rover Sport.
‘The Great White Shark’ Greg Norman (Australia) and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia (Spain) are ‘speed maniacs’ who relieve stress by car racing at actual race tracks. Norman once drove the pace car at the American ‘Indy 500’ race at speeds up to 320 km/h and has experience piloting jets such as the F-14 Tomcat and F-16 Phantom 4.
Aaron Baddeley (Australia) speeds down highways in a Pontiac GTO, famous as a sports car. Frank Lickliter (USA) once competed in car races, showcasing his high-level skills. Veteran Jay Haas (USA), who plays on the Champions Tour, treasures a 1960s Shelby Mustang GT500.
◆Collect Precious New Models= Ian Poulter (England), known as the ‘fashion model of the field,’ is a representative car collector. His garage is filled with prestigious cars including a white Ferrari California, Ford GT-40, Jaguar XFR, Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin DB9, and Rolls-Royce Ghost. He often boasts about his ‘rides’ on Twitter and Facebook whenever he has time.
He is not just a car enthusiast. Poulter is also famous as a ‘new product maniac’ who buys every newly released item. His hundreds of golf shoes displayed at home reveal his ‘collecting obsession.’ He is sensitive to trends as well. When competing, he mainly wears ‘bootcut’ pants that slightly widen below the knee to show a strong presence. Checkered patterned pants have become his trademark. He also runs a clothing business under the brand ‘IPD,’ named after himself.
Paul Azinger (USA) is famous as a ‘rider.’ He owns 34 different motorcycles and even has a workshop. He rides about 90,000 km annually. His dream is to cross the United States on a motorcycle someday. Davis Love III (USA) is no less. He is a collector who buys any luxury item, including the black Fat Boy motorcycle ridden by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie ‘Terminator.’
Bubba Watson has a special love for cars, to the extent that he became a co-owner of a Chevrolet dealership. [Photo by Bubba Watson Instagram]
Long hitter Bubba Watson (USA) is also impressive. He owns a luxury sedan, a sports car specially decorated with emblems in his signature pink color, and a Mercedes G-Wagon. In a 2018 interview with Golfweek USA, he confessed, "I have bought 37 cars over 12 years." In 2016, he became a co-owner of a Chevrolet dealership in Milton, Florida. Ricky Fowler (USA) also owns a Porsche 911 Turbo, Nissan GT-R, and Mercedes C-Class Coupe. He incorporates his signature orange color into his custom cars.
◆Our Love for Prestigious Cars= ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) also owns quite impressive cars. He mainly drives a custom black Mercedes S65 AMG. His most treasured car is the Porsche Carrera GT. In February 2021, he was involved in a serious accident while driving a Genesis GV80, which totaled the vehicle, but he was not seriously injured, drawing attention. He has a special attachment to the Buick Bengal modeled after himself, featuring cat-eye-shaped headlights and doors designed to accommodate golf bags.
Most domestic players also drive luxury cars. Safety is the top priority, and since they often travel long distances, they choose comfortable vehicles. Car-related expenses are tax-deductible, so they lease expensive cars. Many players earn ‘handsome side income’ from hole-in-one prizes or sponsor gifts.
‘Golf legend’ Se-ri Pak drove the Aston Martin DBX707, the world’s most powerful luxury SUV, last year. She praised it, saying, "The world-class power and speed, excellent precision, dynamic feel, and immersive driving experience are impressive." Shin Ji-ae received cars as prizes from winning on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour. She earned a nice side income with a Mercedes sedan and van, as well as GM’s sports car Camaro.
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