Wolves ace Jamie O'Hara switches to the greens - but not Ireland

Jun 26 2011 by Bill Howell, Sunday Mercury

JAMIE O’Hara could easily have swapped his football boots and shin pads for an iron and a pair of Plus four breeches.

That’s how good the 24-year-old was as a toddler hitting a golf ball with a club.

Now Wolves’ £5 million summer recruit from Tottenham says he would be quite happy for eleven-month old son Archie to become the new Rory McIlroy rather than follow him into the football world.

Golf nut O’Hara says the Wolves team have followed Mick McCarthy’s lead with an addiction which is taking them to the greens and fairways during their summer holidays.

A number of them have become members at the Belfry, close to the Villa training ground near Tamworth.

O’Hara plays off the handicap of six which means he is no mug - but unlike his football which saw him score stunning goals for Wolves against Albion, Blackpool and Blackburn on the final day - his finishing on the shorter grass is woeful.

“I’m a handy golfer,” says the popular Londoner. “If I could putt I’d be a scratch golfer but I’m terrible at putting.

“I’m like Sergio Garcia!

“He misses as many putts as he gets.”

Wolves boss McCarthy is an avid golfer in his spare time and his players have caught the bug.

“The gaffer loves a game of golf and I love a game of golf – I love it,” says O’Hara just in case folk were left in any doubt.

“We’ve all joined as members at The Belfry and we all play there now.

“But it’s so busy there in the summer. It’s ridiculous.”

O’Hara has been playing for the last 17 years, taking to it like a feathered quacker to liquid since he was a toddler.

“I started playing golf when I was seven-years-old and I was really good,” he said.

“If I’d have taken it up, I probably could have made something out of it but I always wanted to play football.