TODD WOODBRIDGE

One half of ‘The Woodies’, Todd Woodbridge won a staggering 20 Grand Slam tennis titles in both doubles and mixed doubles, as well as Olympic gold. A lifelong golfer, the game has been a valued part of his life.

What is the thing about golf for Todd Woodbridge?

It has allowed me to keep competing post my tennis career. What I love about it is that I am competing against myself. It is that similar feeling I had as an athlete that still allows me to go out and get that same intensity that I had but in a much more enjoyable space. Golf has opened more doors to contacts and friendships than what my tennis did. Tennis is a wonderful sport, it gave me everything. But because I was able to meet people and spend time with them on the golf course it is actually given me far more opportunity. I think it is the only sport that does that, where it creates this equality because of the handicap system and it allows lifetime associations to build.

How did you get started in golf?

I grew up on the back of Cronulla Golf Club and started in golf through the pro from Woolooware Golf Club in the first term of Year 7 sport at Woolooware High School. Then I started to travel, and Ray Ruffels was very influential in getting quite a few of us started, because golf was his passion and love away from tennis. When we travelled to Europe he always took a half set. So, very early on we started to do the same and we would spend twilight hours after tennis nipping around to a golf course wherever we could find one.

Was there a moment that hooked you?

I don’t know if there was a moment … but there was a shot. I’d call it the high lob shot, almost the Phil Mickelson if you like. That lob shot is something, although I play at Royal Melbourne now and never hit it, that I love because I also think one of the most underused and underrated shots in tennis is the lob, so there is lovely synergy between them both.

When you were in the states you lived at Isleworth, which had to be amazing for a golfer?

I have had some of the best tips that any golf lover could possibly have. Some of the best were evenings around the green outside my house with Craig Parry teaching me how to chip and choose the right club on shots.

You’ve caddied for Ian Baker-Finch and Stuart Appleby caddied for you. Those are special experiences.

Quite incredible. Because of tennis I was introduced to golfers, and I actually bought my first house off Ian because he upgraded after winning The Open. That was sort of my introduction, but within Orlando I got to play and meet with some of the greats. I played with Tiger many times, I played with Arnold Palmer and so I look back at that and go “Boy, I was very lucky”.

Is there a standout moment playing with Tiger?

I do sportsmen’s’ events often with Nick O’Hern. He will tell stories of beating Tiger then say he isn’t the only guy in the room who beat Tiger. I beat him over five holes. Tiger got off to a bad start, I hung on for a hole or two and I got to my home on the 5th and we both hit the green and I said “Yours is good, mine’s good” and I went home beating him 1 up.