'The challenge attracted me': Peter Odemwingie's move from Premier League striker to golf pro

Today at 06:08 AM

Former Nigeria international on starting in slippers, hoping to inspire African golfers and that attempt to join QPR

"It's unbelievable," says Peter Odemwingie. "I never thought I could get so obsessed with this game." On a cloudy Tuesday afternoon in the affluent northern suburbs of Birmingham, the former West Brom, Stoke and Nigeria striker has just ripped a drive well beyond 300 yards down the third fairway at Sutton Coldfield golf club.

Watched by Odemwingie and his friend and fellow pro Lewis Pearce from nearby Aston Wood golf club – not to mention Pearce's pet dachshund, George – it is soon my turn to step up to the tee. Having somehow scrambled a par to win the first, my early advantage has evaporated thanks to a miscued tee shot into the trees at the second. With the match level, the pressure is on. But sadly my tee shot fails to get off the ground and comes to rest in a big patch of heather no more than 80 yards away.