Golf has become a popular pastime within the Formula 1 community, offering drivers a mental break during the intense racing season. While current drivers such as Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and Alex Albon use the sport to maintain their focus without the physical toll of racing, none have matched the golfing achievements of 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell.
For Mansell, golf was more than just a form of relaxation; it provided both a competitive outlet and personal fulfillment during and after his racing career.
Nigel Mansell Reflects on His Most Proud Golfing Achievement at a PGA Tour Event
In a recent interview with auction house BUDDS, Mansell shared the moment in his golfing journey that made him feel exceptionally proud. He recalled competing in a senior PGA tour event held at Royal St. David’s Golf Club in Harlech, Wales, where he finished with an impressive 66, the second-best score of the final day among 80 professional golfers.
“One of the proudest moments I had on the PGA tour was when I was at Royal St. David’s in Harlech with the senior tour with 80 pros and myself,”
Mansell said.
“I had the second-best score on the last day. I shot 66, and it was the second-best score of the day. I was very proud of that.”
He also recalled the feedback from fellow professionals, who believed he could have scored even lower:
“Apparently, the other pros who played with me the last day said you should have shot 63. I said I’m happy with the 66.”
Beyond competing, Mansell has contributed to golf through his ownership of Woodbury Park Golf & Country Club in Devon, England. The course regularly hosted the Nigel Mansell Sunseeker International Classic, and Mansell was known to embrace the game so enthusiastically that he sometimes caused delays during rounds.
Memories of Competing in the 1988 Australian Open and Facing Golf’s Pressures
Mansell’s passion for golf also led him to participate in the 1988 Australian Open, allowing him to experience one of the sport’s significant tournaments firsthand. Despite being primarily known for his racing career, he remembers feeling intense nervousness during this major competition.
“I played in the Australian Open back in ’88, where the press were really quite horrible to me,”
Mansell said.
“They said I wouldn’t break 100, wouldn’t break 90. The world number one at the time, Ian Woosnam, I think, shot 75. I shot 77 first round. So that was fantastic.”
Comparing golf to racing, Mansell described the vulnerability of standing exposed on the golf course without the protective gear he was used to in motorsports.
“And to have that experience, you feel so naked on the tee. Going down the straight at 220, 230mph or 250 at Indianapolis, you’re hiding in a helmet. But you’re naked on a golf course, people can see you, you know?”
I got into red figures after six holes, and then I was so nervous on the seventh hole I duck tucked it in a bush, made a double bogey and then I relaxed again.
This candid recollection highlights the intensity and pressure Mansell faced transitioning between a high-speed racing environment and the precision-based challenges of competitive golf.
What Mansell’s Golf Journey Reveals About Athletes Crossing Sports
Nigel Mansell’s involvement in golf demonstrates how professional athletes often seek new challenges beyond their primary sports careers. His achievements on the PGA Tour and persistence in competing at major events like the Australian Open reflect a deep passion for golf and a willingness to embrace the vulnerability and pressures it entails.
As driver-golfers like Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and others continue to pursue golf for both relaxation and competition, Mansell’s experiences stand as an example of how success can be found across disciplines.
Looking ahead, Mansell’s continuing commitment to golf, including his ownership role at Woodbury Park, suggests that his contributions to the sport may influence future interactions between motor racing and golf communities, encouraging appreciation for the mental and physical demands of both arenas.
