Former world snooker champion priced 147-1 to qualify for golf major
Shaun Murphy won the snooker world title in 2005.
Former world snooker champion Shaun Murphy will try to qualify for next month’s Open Golf Championship at Royal Portrush.
Murphy, who won snooker’s top prize in 2005, will temporarily swap the baize for the links later this month when he plays in Open qualifying at County Louth.
Online gambling firm Betway have priced Murphy at 147-1 to qualify for the competition, and the snooker player admits his chances of progressing to the final stage of qualifying are slim.
“It is all a bit tongue in cheek and a bit of a laugh,” he told BBC Sport.
“The one thing I do have going for me is that I already have a full-time job. Golf isn’t my livelihood. Relative to the other players I will be playing against, it doesn’t really matter to me if I win or lose.
“I am just trying to have a good day out. I could knock it round in anything from 68 to 108.
“It is very hard to maintain a scratch handicap while having a full-time snooker career, a young family and all the rest of it.
“I won’t be off scratch for much longer so I thought I should take my opportunity while I am still eligible.”
He said: “That was a fantastic experience. I thought it would be nice to have a go myself.
