Ash Barty to play in Icon Series golf event alongside Harry Kane, Michael Phelps

Ash Barty will return to the world stage of sport wielding a golf club rather than a tennis racket

The former world No 1 will play in a teams exhibition event in New Jersey from 30 June 30 to 1 July, alongside some of sport’s biggest names

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Ash Barty holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Danielle Collins in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open. Photo: AP

Published: 2:15pm, 19 Apr 2022

Ash Barty has signed on to play in an international golf exhibition just weeks after retiring from tennis while ranked No 1 in the world.

The 25-year-old Australian has been included in Ernie Els’ Rest of the World team for the Icons Series event at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, on June 30 and July 1.

Barty decided to quit tennis last month. She won the Australian Open in January for her third grand slam singles championship after titles at Wimbledon last year and the French Open in 2019.

She has reportedly lowered her golf handicap to 4 and is continuing a versatile approach to sports, which included her briefly pursuing a professional cricket career in 2015 during a nearly two-year sabbatical from tennis.

No 1-ranked Barty announced her retirement from tennis in March. Photo: AP

Icon Series organisers said Barty will be joined by the likes of Pep Guardiola and Harry Kane in the 10-hole team match play competition against Fred Couples’ US team, which includes Michael Phelps, Oscar De La Hoya and Ben Roethlisberger.