Former world No.1 tennis star Ash Barty is set to make a comeback to global competition when she trades her racquet for a club to take on Team USA in the inaugural Icons Series event, staged at Liberty National golf club in New Jersey.
Barty is one of three Australian sports stars representing the World Team — captained by South African golfing legend Ernie Els — in the charity event which starts early tomorrow morning (Australian time).
The 26-year-old shocked the world earlier this year when she announced her immediate retirement from professional tennis, shortly after claiming her maiden Australian Open title.
The three-time grand slam winner will share the course with a host of sporting stars including 23-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps, NFL legend Ben Roethlisberger, Mexican undisputed super-middleweight boxing champion Canelo Alvarez, England striker Harry Kane and Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting.
Watch every stroke of Day 2 of the Icons Series 2022 from 4am AEST Saturday 2 July 2022 EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on FOX SPORTS available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Since quitting tennis, the Ipswich native says she has spent more time on the greens sharpening her skills ahead of her international competitive debut.
“I often found when I was playing a lot of tennis I struggled with my golf swing, I couldn’t quite get the contact right,” she told Fox Sports’ golf expert Paul Gow in an interview to air on Fox Sports and Kayo.
“When I wasn’t playing tennis I would play better golf, so there’s no excuses now, the tennis isn’t an issue.
“There are some similarities (in the sports) but I still think a little bit like a tennis player, in a sense of when something is being explained to me I relate it back to tennis … that’s my comfort zone.”
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Team USA and the World Team will compete against each other over the course of six sessions.
Each team will feature 12 iconic professional athletes as well as team captains, golf legends Fred Couples and Els.
There will be three 10-hole match play sessions each day, consisting of four balls and greensomes (similar to foursomes), and the event will conclude with head-to-head singles matches.
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WHERE AND WHEN
Thursday 30 June to Friday 1 July 2022 (US Time) at Liberty National golf club, New Jersey.
HOW TO WATCH?
Day 1 will not be televised, however, you can watch Day 2 of the Icons Series 2022 live and in HD on Fox Sports, Channel 505, or live stream it on Kayo Sports from 4am AEST on Saturday 2 July.
Watch every stroke of Day 2 of the Icons Series 2022 from 4am AEST Saturday 2 July 2022 EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on FOX SPORTS available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
FULL TEAM LINE-UPS (INCLUDING HANDICAPS)
United States:
Fred Couples – Captain
Michael Phelps – 10 Handicap, Swimming
Michael Strahan – 6 Handicap, American football
Ben Roethlisberger – 4 Handicap, American football
J.R. Smith – 4 Handicap, Basketball
Andrew Whitworth – 4 Handicap, American football
Robbie Gould – 5 Handicap, American football
John Smoltz – +1.6 Handicap, Baseball
Marshall Faulk – 4 Handicap, American football
Ivan Rodriguez – 4 Handicap, Baseball
Reggie Bush – 6.8 Handicap, American football
Golden Tate – 3.2 Handicap, American football/Baseball
Michael Vick – 7 Handicap, American football
Rest of World:
Ernie Els – Captain (South Africa)
Ash Barty – 4 Handicap, Tennis (Australia)
Pep Guardiola – 10 Handicap, Soccer (Spain)
Harry Kane – 0 Handicap, Soccer (England)
Canelo Alvarez – 8 Handicap, Boxing (Mexico)
AB de Villiers – 2.3 Handicap, Cricket (South Africa)
James Milner – 7.4 Handicap, Soccer (England)
George Gregan – 6.4 Handicap, Rugby (Australia)
Ricky Ponting – 2 Handicap, Cricket (Australia)
Brian Lara – 7 Handicap, Cricket (Trinidad and Tobago)
Yuvraj Singh – 12 Handicap, Cricket (India)
*Two members of the international team are yet to be revealed.
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