Famous golfers who play poker and why the two games overlap
It may seem like a coincidence but there is more than just wealth in common between golf and poker. Both require the same qualities – patience, mental discipline and being able to control your risk taking abilities while under constant stress. Also, both games go through periods of time where no matter how good you are, if you get hurt by just one bad decision your whole effort could be wasted. This makes poker especially appealing to the professional golfer. They spend months on the road traveling from city to city with large blocks of free time to occupy themselves. Because many of the skills needed to play poker (reading people and their body language, managing your own emotions, and making smart decisions based upon unknown factors) are similar to the skills used to compete in golf; it creates a natural way for golfers to compete against other golfers in a new form of competition.
Both games also create a parallel in terms of the mental strategy. When a golfer steps up to hit a golf ball he commits himself to that shot completely without knowing what factors (wind changes, missed reads on greens, etc.) will affect the outcome of the shot. Similarly, when a poker player bets/raises he does so without knowing which cards remain in the deck. Both games also penalize impatient golfers/poker players and reward those golfers/poker players who understand when to hold back instead of forcing the issue.
Professional Golfers Who Are Well-Known for Their Interest in Playing Poker
Phil Mickelson is perhaps the most widely reported example. There were many reports regarding his participation in sports betting and card games to such an extent that investigative reporters began reporting on his actions. Mickelson admitted to having made mistakes regarding gambling during a time frame surrounding his eventual departure from the PGA Tour. Mickelson’s example is extreme compared to others. Most golfers who enjoy cards do so with little controversy and significantly less financially at stake than Mickelson.
Tiger Woods, however, is believed to participate in private cash games during tournament weeks and down times throughout the year. Like Mickelson, Tiger keeps details about his activities at these games quiet. According to some sources, Tiger approaches poker similarly to golf. That means methodically, watching carefully, and avoiding giving away information. Other players who have participated in games with Tiger describe him as reserved, preferring to avoid losing money over trying to win it aggressively. He has been described as a serious competitor rather than someone participating for social reasons. Competitive athletes at his level generally tend to seek environments where they can find legitimate competitors — TigergGaming Poker attracts players from athletic backgrounds looking for that type of competition outside of private games.
John Daly, unlike Mickelson and Tiger, has never shied away from expressing his love for gambling. Card games have provided a background for his entire career according to his autobiography. John estimates he lost millions of dollars over the years across various types of gambling. Again, John’s history has been seen as part of his personality rather than a scandal — again due to his candor about it and his lack of need for corporate-style image on the tour. He has played in at least one celebrity poker event and participates in charitable card tournaments held at golf tournaments.
Sergio Garcia is known among fellow PGA Tour members as a regular player at private poker games during tournament weeks. While Garcia has not mentioned playing cards in interviews or press conferences, many of his peer members on both the European and American tours mention him as being involved in private card games that travel through hotel lobbies during major tournaments. Those knowledgeable about the unofficial card culture within the PGA Tour see Garcia as a skilled player who competes seriously and not as simply a casual player.
What These Golfers’ Interest in Poker Says About Each Sport
Beyond those four names, Padraig Harrington has stated poker is an activity he uses mentally as a way to pass the time while he waits for the next tournament. Rickie Fowler has participated in charity poker tournaments. Ian Poulter (who is also known for being extremely competitive) apparently plays regularly on the tour. Although none of these players are using poker as a key aspect of how they represent themselves to the public; there appears to be no question about whether or not these competitors have a legitimate interest in the game.
The commonality evident among each of the above mentioned competitors is a specific set of characteristics that golf creates. A competitor comfortable waiting for extended periods of time, able to make decisions under extreme pressure independently of outside influence, and used to the physical and mental demands associated with competing over multiple days. The ability to patiently wait for a hand that can be played (mirroring the ability to decide if you should play aggressively toward a hazard or take a conservative approach), and the ability to “read” the position of a ball on a putting green (conceptually analogous to “reading” a table in cards), are just two examples where these skills overlap.
Additionally, the social dynamics of touring reinforce this dynamic. Many professional golfers spend much of their lives traveling from event to event, often in close proximity to the same small groups of fellow competitors. The competitive environment created by card games would likely never be replicated simply by practicing.