Jimmy Bullard has been handed a major boost to his hopes to competing against some of golf’s greatest players.
The former footballer has even been told he could face off against Tiger Woods in the coming years.
YouTube / @GolfLifeColin Montgomerie has urged the former footballer to join the Champions Tour[/caption]
Bullard has made no secret of his passion for golf both during an after his time as a Premier League star.
The 47-year-old is even a scratch golfer and has competed in professional events on the PGA EuroPro Tour in the past.
However, he has yet to make the step up to facing the world’s best outside of his YouTube golf channel.
Having retired from football in 2012, Bullard now appears on Golf Life with former Soccer AM fan favourite Tubes.
The pair’s latest video featured former world number two and Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie.
Monty now competes on the PGA Champions Tour, where he has been a winner seven times.
The tour is open to golfers aged 50 and over but has a long-list of entry requirements which have been described as the ‘most complicated system known to man’ by TV analyst Bobby Clampett.
Despite that, Montgomerie had good news when asked if Bullard could make it on the tour and if not what he would need to improve.
The 61-year-old explained: “That’s a good question. Very little you have to work on. You’ve got great hands, you’ve got good speed.
“When you talk about 111, 112mph club head speed that is PGA Tour stuff never mind Champions Tour. So you’ve got the speed, you’ve got the length.
YouTube / @GolfLifeMontgomerie was impressed by Bullard’s ability on the course[/caption]
“You know how to compete, which is key. You want to compete, you want the challenge and you are good enough to compete.
“It’s the first time I’ve played nine holes with you and I have been very impressed with everything. The putting stroke is superb.
“What you’ve got in your hands, the ‘educated hands’ is what we call it in our game. I would say, three years time, give it a bash. I think you’d regret it if you didn’t.”
Bullard turns 50 in October 2028, at which point he could potentially land a place on the Champions Tour.
However, Clampett even once said that ‘not a single player even understands it fully’ when describing the entry requirements.
A majority of the 78 spots at each event are made up of players from the previous year’s money list and the all-time combined PGA Tour and Champions Tour money list.
The remaining 18 spots include a number of berths for sponsor exemptions and qualifiers if the field is not full, though, which is where Bullard could secure his place.
It would open the door to facing multiple Major champions, including the legendary Woods.
Montgomerie added: “I think it would be fantastic for the viewers to watch and see you compete against the likes of Darren Clarke, (Miguel Angel) Jimenez, Ernie Els, (Fred) Couples, (Steve) Stricker or Tiger Woods.
“He’s 50 in December. So if he’s fit, if he wants to play, whatever he wants to do.
“But then the draw comes out and you’ve had a good day, you’re a couple under, which is easily achievable, and he’s had his two under. Draw comes out, Jimmy Bullard, Tiger Woods. Come on now.”
The mention of facing the 15-time Major winner prompted Bullard to scoff ‘stop it, stop it’ as Monty hailed his performance in their nine-hole match.
Woods will turn 50 in December this year, making him eligible for the 2026 Champions Tour should he choose to appear.
He has competed sporadically in recent years due to countless injury setbacks, with an Achilles issue ruling him out of this month’s Masters.
However, with a record 82 PGA Tour wins to his name, Woods would have more than earned his spot on the Champions Tour.
The tour has a considerably less intense schedule as well, with just 28 events last year compared to 47 on the PGA Tour.
Montgomerie will be appearing in the latest of those events in Florida this weekend.
He is in the field for the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational at Broken Sound in Boca Raton.
