The richest hole in golf: Westwood and Garcia teams eye $10milllion jackpot in Reignwood Icons of Football

Dave Tindall
Line-ups for the Reignwood Icons of Football
Line-ups for the Reignwood Icons of Football.

With the acrimony and rancour that has split the golf world asunder in the last few years the Ryder Cup legacy of some of Europe’s finest performers in the match has taken a hit – and meant they might never captain the continent.

This weekend (March 1-2), however, two of those players are taking charge of teams of footballing icons who are facing off against each other at the Robinswood Golf Course in Reignwood Park, Bangkok.

As the footballers swap boots for clubs Team England will be led by Westwood and he will take on Sergio Garcia’s Team World.

The footballers have played and won titles in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and international competitions – and will now battle it out in a 10-hole matchplay format.

It’s a unique tournament that will showcase the rivalries of football in a whole new setting, with players teaming up with former adversaries and aiming for glory.

Team England is made up of excellent golfer Jimmy Bullard, Robbie Fowler, Joe Hart, Paul Ince, Phil Jagielka, Jermaine Jenas, Phil Jones, Paul Scholes, Lee Sharpe, Teddy Sheringham, John Terry and Theo Walcott.

Team World has Peter Schmeichel, Hamit Altintop, Gabriel Batistuta, Patrik Berger, Ronald de Boer, Nigel De Jong, Luís Figo, Diego Forlán, David Ginola, Ruud Gullit, Nemanja Vidić, Gianfranco Zola and Carlos Tevez who once caddied for his Argentinean compatriot Andres Romero in the Open Championship.

The Richest Hole In Golf

During the event, each Icon will take on the $10M Swing, otherwise known as The Richest Hole in Golf.

It is an additional scoring hole on Saturday when all players will tee off on the signature 12th hole, a breathtaking 170-yard par-3, for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at history.

If any icon makes a hole-in-one he will win an unprecedented $10 million prize pot, the biggest single prize ever awarded on a golf hole (a percentage of winnings will go to the player’s chosen charity and the Icons Foundation, which supports MND).

UK fans can also get involved by selecting the Icon they believe has the skill and composure to make the ultimate shot in a free-to-enter competition via the Icons website.

“We’ve got a seriously strong England team, packed with competitive footballing icons who are ready to take on Team World,” said Westwood. “My team is ready and I can’t wait for them to tee off in Bangkok and bring home the Icons Trophy.”

“This is a tournament like no other,” said Garcia. “It’s an honour to captain Team World and compete alongside some of the biggest names in football history.

“I have been a teammate of Lee Westwood in the past but there won’t be any friendly behavior this week. These players are proven winners, and we’re ready to take on England in what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

You can watch the Reignwood Icons of football on multiple platforms around the world and live on Icons Series YouTube Channel.

Find out more here!

READ MORE: British celebrities and athletes with surprisingly low handicaps