The British Open starts on Thursday and offers fans all over the world a chance to see the biggest and best names participating in the oldest major tournament professional golf has to offer.
Even though they made their name on the green, some of the sport’s most famous stars actually found their first love on a football field.
Here are ten of the biggest names you can hope to see during the British Open and where their non-secret allegiance lies in the world of football.
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Coming from Spain’s Basque country, it will come as no surprise that Jon Rahm quickly became a supporter of the Athletic Club – more commonly known as Athletic Bilbao.
It was not just from the stands where Rahm showed his passion for football, as the 24-year-old used to be an avid player as a youngster.
“In football, I wanted to be a goalkeeper,” Rahm told Yahoo Sport. “I will never forget when I was 13, we played in a big tournament with other top teams. We led 32 in the last seconds, and there was a penalty kick, so I had to stop the shot.
“Both teams lined up and watched, all the fans screamed and I stopped the ball and we won. I loved that feeling, that everyone was counting on me. But it can be hard to get it in team sports. In golf there is the internal pressure on every shot. I think that’s why I fell in love with the game. “
The Turkish Airlines Open 2016 and the winner of the Italian Open 2016 break the form from what most fans consider acceptable in the football world, as Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen supports two different teams.
Just a few clicks away from his hometown Furesø Municipality, Olesen follows Denmark’s most successful team FC Copenhagen.
But the 29-year-old also has allegiance in the Premier League, and Olesen is among a handful of players who also have Manchester United as their team.
If only you could not tell Tyrrell Hatton’s personal wedge, the 27-year-old has placed his allegiance in the red half of Merseyside.
He may come from north-west London, but Hatton’s passion for everything Liverpool has already seen him build a relationship with Red’s own Yorkshire Figo.
“I got to know James Milner – he’s played for Liverpool in recent years and he’s a really keen golfer, so obviously when our schedules allow we can try to get a match in,” said Hatton, quoted by The Mirror.
“So for me, it’s pretty cool to know a player from the team I support!”
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Born just a few miles north of the city center in Merseyside’s largest coastal city, it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that Southport’s Tommy Fleetwood is an Everton fan.
The 28-year-old was even invited to Goodison Park two years ago to promote the 2017 British Open.
Veteran Henrik Stenson does not hide that he is not the biggest football fan, but he still has a team.
The Nordic countries’ first ever champion is a low-key Manchester United fan by placing their allegiance all the way down to where Jesper Blomqvist played at the time.
Ian Poulter, England, Andrew Redington / GettyImages golf shoes
While some golfers may be reluctant to show their loyalties too much, Ian Poulter – who has been as high as fifth in the world rankings during his career – does not hide that he is a huge Arsenal fan.
So much so that Poulter risked breaking the rules when he wore an Arsenal shirt during one of his rounds in the Abu Dhabi Championship 2006.
Poulters pulled on his Arsenal shirt while on the green these days, but that hasn’t stopped a sticker or two from appearing on his shoes during competitions.
It’s one thing to be a fan of a team and even be invited to a ceremonial appearance at a club’s home stadium, but number four ranked Justin Rose once received a personal invitation to Chelsea’s training ground by then – captain John Terry.
The 38-year-old even took part in a golf chipping competition at Cobham with some of the Chelsea team.
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Italian Francesco Molinari’s first team was Inter, but the 36-year-old also had to adopt a Premier League team when he moved to England in 2009.
Manchester United?
No.
Liverpool?
Not a chance.
Open Champion 2018 actually supports … West Ham!
“At that time,” he said, quoted by ESPN. “Gianfranco Zola was the manager of West Ham and my coach, Denis Pugh, supports them – as do some other friends of mine in London.
“He’s moved on since then, but I’m staying at Hammers.”
31-time professional champion Sergio García is perhaps just the most recognizable football-loving golfer, and with good reason as well.
He had the honor of taking an honorable start to his beloved Real Madrid before a much-anticipated El Clásico, but the 39-year-old is more than just a football fan, as he even dipped his toes in the water behind the scenes.
García is also president of his hometown Club de Fútbol Borriol, based in Castellón, Valencia, in Spain’s Tercera División.
Manchester United vs. Swansea City – Premier League | Alex Livesey / GettyImages
Manchester United supporter, former world leader Rory McIlroy, got the chance to present Claret Jug at Old Trafford after winning the Open 2014.
But the 30-year-old has also done something that many United fans would consider a cardinal sin – behind Liverpool to win the Champions League final.
Before their final against Real Madrid 2018, via the Liverpool Echo, McIlroy said: “As much as I am United fans, and United fans should hate Liverpool, I think it would be great to see a British team win, so hopefully [they will]. “
