EXCLUSIVE: England captain Harry Kane on golf, Tiger, Augusta and the World Cup

Harry Kane England's World Cup captain joins TG to discuss everything golf, Tiger woods and Augusta.

Ahead of England’s World Cup campaign, we caught up with captain Harry Kane for an exclusive chat about everything from getting to scratch and playing with Tiger, to getting on Augusta and the difference between a pressure putt and a crucial penalty.

Harry Kane is one of those annoying people who excels in just about every sporting activity he tries his hand at. 

Millions will be watching as the Tottenham striker leads the England team out for the World Cup in Qatar looking to win the Golden Boot for the second successive tournament and go one better than the semi-final the team achieved in 2018.

RELATED: Gareth Bale on his love of golf

But not many will know he’s an accomplished golfer, too; a scratch handicap Wentworth member who has played with Tiger Woods. Twice. Earlier this year he even teed it up at Augusta National, 24 hours after Scottie Scheffler had donned the Green Jacket.

Kane cannot get enough of golf. Obviously, rounds are restricted during the football season, but whenever he has time off, he usually ends up on the course, often with Spurs teammates Eric Dier and Matt Doherty… as he reveals here in our exclusive interview. 

When did you start playing?

I was six or seven, but I didn’t actually play that much; my dad just took me to a course. I don’t remember where, just being on a course with Dad. I didn’t start playing properly until I was 12 or 13.

I used to go down to my local course, Chingford, and play with friends. Though I was never really ‘obsessed’ back then. 

When did you become obsessed?

That was when I was about 17 or 18. I remember one summer I didn’t really go on holiday and I ended up playing golf every day for five weeks.

My handicap came down from about 18 to around 10 and from there the obsession grew year by year as I just really got into it. I started watching it on the TV as well as playing it. I loved watching Tiger Woods in particular. 

RELATED: Best golf courses in England

What is your handicap now?

I’m off scratch. I finally managed to get down to the magical zero! But I definitely don’t play to that every round.

Where do you play?

I’m a member of Wentworth and of Beaverbrook in Surrey. I play with a couple of my Spurs teammates – Eric and Matt both play quite a lot – plus a few friends who I’ve known for years.

There’s usually a group of six or seven of us. My brother, Charlie, plays and my uncle still plays, so every now and then I’ll play with him. I try to keep it fresh, so I’m not playing with the same people all the time.

RELATED: Best courses in the Middle East

Why has golf hooked you so hard – what’s the attraction?

I’m someone who always tries to live in the now and golf really does let you do that for the four or five hours you’re out on the course – all you’re thinking about is the next shot. That feeling of trying to master the game is obviously the biggest challenge – one of the biggest challenges in the world.

Then there’s the competitive side, which obviously I’m used to in training and playing football. And it’s a very social sport, it’s great to get out there with your friends and family for a few hours to just talk and switch off. I just love being out in the fresh air and enjoying those moments of being with people I like. 

Are there any parallels between golf and the day job?

I think mentality is the biggest thing. Most pro athletes have a similar mentality in their drive and determination, that willingness to work hard and practice. So, for sure, you can take all those things. As for the actual sport itself, I guess a four-foot putt and a penalty are both similar, high-pressure situations.

A penalty kick is probably the closest scenario you’ll get to golf in football… it’s just you and a stationary ball, so you kind of go through that same emotion. I’ve taken a few penalties in my career and I’ve got to be honest, I miss more four-footers than I do penalties…

What’s been your biggest golfing highlight so far?

I was lucky enough to play with Tiger Woods. That was magical, having grown up watching him play. It happened in the Bahamas in late 2017 and it was just amazing to watch him hit balls, chip and putt. I only played four holes with him, to begin with, and then spent some time with him afterwards. But I played 18 holes with him the next day alongside two other low-handicappers.

How did I get on?

Let’s just say none of us took any money home, that’s for sure. It was quite cool because it was before his comeback, when nobody really knew if he would be back to his best. I think he shot six under that day and said that his back felt really good. So we had the inside track that he was on the way back. The following year he won the Tour Championship and then, the year after, he won the Masters!

RELATED: What’s in the bag: Tiger Woods

What’s been your best round to date?

At the start of this year, I shot six under at Beaverbrook. It was one of those rounds where everything came together – I putted well, drove it well, chipped well and I got up and down from everywhere!

Having said that, I did four-putt a par 5 – I missed the eagle and walked off with a bogey! I had two bogeys and eight birdies; a pretty cool round! 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of your game?

My biggest strength is my distance off the tee – I hit it pretty far, probably as far as most pros I would say, so that’s a real advantage. I’m driving it well with an average around the 300-yard mark, enabling me to make a few birdies and score well. My short game, especially my chipping, is pretty good, too.

Weaknesses?

I’d probably say my irons,  which I struggle with… sometimes I don’t manage to flush them out of the middle every time, whereas with the driver I’m pretty comfortable. It comes down to practice as well, and maybe I haven’t had enough time to work on my irons. But, all in all, I’m comfortable with my game. 

What are you doing to address those weaknesses?

I’m off scratch, but I feel like I’m not a consistent scratch player. I can shoot under par every now and then, but I can also shoot in the high 80s.

I want to be more consistent. I’m thinking about lessons over the next year or two to get some tips which, when I’m having a bad day, will avoid it turning into a terrible day!  Obviously, it’s hard, not being able to practice that much, but maybe a few lessons here and there will help.

What’s the best tip you’ve had?

I think it’s something that Tiger has said before; treat the next shot as if it’s the last shot of your life. In other words, the next shot is the most important one. It’s so easy to miss a three-foot putt and then carry that on to the next tee, hit a bad drive and make two, three, four bogeys in a row.

No matter how good or bad I hit a shot, it’s all about 100 per cent focus on that shot. Of course, it’s easier said than done because golf is a very emotional sport and naturally you’re going to be disappointed at times. But the key is to try to stay in the moment and not get too far ahead of yourself.

RELATED: Tips: Should you go for it or lay up?

You played for the Rest of the World team against the USA in the star-studded Icon Series event in the summer; how was that?

The team aspect is so much fun. Obviously, you can have a bad hole and hopefully, your partner will come to your rescue. I play team golf, two vs two, with my friends all the time and it’s good fun. You play some good holes, you play some bad holes.

What was that like, standing on the first tee in front of a crowd, compared with taking a vital penalty for England?

A penalty is more nerve-wracking, especially when it’s a high-pressure game. The nerves on the first tee at
a pro-am or in the Icon Series are so different – I’m not used to holding a club all the time, and I’m not used to using my hands all the time.

The adrenaline is pumping and there’s bound to be a few butterflies, but because it’s not your profession, you can kind of accept it and move on. Whereas if you miss a penalty, it’s harder to take because you’ve been doing that for years and years and you’re expected to score.

RELATED: Soccer AM’s Tubes – “Golf saved my life”

Do you take your clubs everywhere?

We don’t really get time during the football season. But if we go away during the weeks I get off, I’ll always take the clubs and make the most of that time. I don’t think we’ll have much time for golf in Qatar!

What’s your favourite course?

Augusta National!

I was lucky enough to watch the 2022 final round live there on the Sunday and I managed to play the course myself the following day. I’ve been watching the Masters for years on the TV so to be there in the flesh, to see Amen Corner and be able to play it was just an incredible experience, so much fun.

I shot 85, which was respectable, but I three-putted five holes, which was pretty tough. I was pretty good off the tee but tripled the 12th after sticking one in Rae’s Creek. Overall, though, I’d have probably taken 85 before the round, given the tricky greens and the fact I was playing there for the first time. If I played it again, I think I’d be able to go lower. 

RELATED: What happened when a club golfer played Augusta?

What’s your temperament like, out on the course?

When I play golf, especially when I’m with friends, I just want to have a good time. Of course I want to shoot as low as I can, but I don’t get too down or frustrated if things don’t work out. I just want to relax, just switch off from football. I’m quite cool when I’m out on the course.

Any embarrassing moments?

When I was playing in the Scottish Open Pro-Am alongside Ian Poulter a few years ago, my drive on the 16th hole hit a spectator on the leg. I had to sheepishly walk over and apologise to the poor person – that was pretty embarrassing.

Do you watch much golf on TV or go to tournaments?

I’ll watch as much golf as I can, whether it’s the Majors or regular tournaments, more PGA than DP World Tour, to be honest. I missed the 150th Open at St Andrews as Tottenham were on a pre-season tour in South Korea.

What’s your perfect golf holiday – where would you go?

I love going over to America to play. I went on a golf trip before the Icon Series, where I played Hudson National, Winged Foot and Quaker Ridge… that was a nice little trip! And I’ve been to Scotland a few times; I’ve done St Andrews and Kingsbarns, two incredible courses, plus I’ve played Troon, Turnberry and Loch Lomond. 

RELATED: Top 10 Golf Resorts in the World

Is there much golfing interest in the Spurs and England camps? 

At Tottenham, it’s me, Eric Dier and Matt Doherty as a golf group and we’re always getting at each other – we have some good battles! They’re both off about eight and they have more of a battle between themselves. We have a couple of putting greens at the training ground, but they don’t actually get used much – I think the lads are a little scared of using them in case the manager comes out and sees we’re not in the gym!

For England, Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford and a couple of others play, though I don’t play with the England guys that much. I’m the lowest handicapper among them. 

Do you think you might follow Gareth Bale and build a course in your garden?

I’m more likely to actually live on a course, being able to go out on a buggy and hit some balls.

RELATED: Best Golf Courses in Wales

Analysing Harry Kane’s Golf Swing

Harry’s Kane’s swing has one very notable quirk; he’s started hovering his driver in front of the ball on the tee. “I don’t know where that comes from,” he says. “I used to hover my driver, and then I started moving it in front of the ball. I felt that it gave me a better position on the backswing and it seemed to work!” The rest of Harry’s swing is pretty textbook, according to Advanced PGA Coach Steve Thomas…

Comfortable at set-up, there doesn’t seem to be any stress or tension in Harry’s body – allowing him to make a free-flowing swing.

RELATED: Set-Up: Check your basics

An emphasis on shoulder turn, you can really see Harry winding up, ready to deliver the club at high speed.

A wonderful position at the top, he looks like he could be on tour! A nice coil from the body, while the clubface and wrist are in perfect harmony.

Both knees are flexed here. He’s poised and ready to straighten his left knee, utilising the ground for increased power.

Check out his right elbow, nicely in front of his torso. He’s also not opened his shoulders too early; elements that help him create the perfect plane.

You can now see how his legs have straightened, utilising the ground to the maximum. All that energy has been released…

He’s slowed his hip and leg work, encouraging faster hands, and encouraging the clubface to rotate closed, guarding against it going right.

RELATED: My life in golf: Kyle Walker and John Stones

The Best Footballing Golfers

Harry Kane is not alone in being a World Cup footballer and superb golfer. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest footballing golfers and their handicaps.

Gareth Bale
The Wales captain leads his nation into their first World Cup since 1958 but he won’t be letting his two-handicap slip while he’s in Qatar. While Bale and his teammates have been told they cannot head to the nearby golf courses, they do have a golf simulator at their base.

Bale’s love of golf has been well-documented. He was nicknamed ‘The Golfer’ during his time as Real Madrid, is rumoured to be considering turning pro when he retires, and he has a three-hole course based on legendary par-3s in his back garden.

Alessandro Del Piero
The Italian played in three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and scored in the penalty shoot out to help his nation lift the trophy in ’02. He plays off 12 and has made appearances in the last three Celebrity Cup events, played ahead of the Ryder Cup. Has been a regular at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Andriy Shevchenko
Two goals helped his Ukraine team through to the WC quarter-finals in 2006. Passionate golfer who turned pro in 2020. Handicap fluctuates between one and four.

Ruud Gullit
Captained Holland in the 1990 WC, where the Dutch were defeated by Germany in the last 16. The seven-handicapper regularly plays in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews.

John Terry
Former Chelsea captain played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. The left-handed Wentworth member has been consistently playing off scratch this year and has made appearances at a host of Pro-Ams, including the British Masters and BMW PGA at Wentworth.

Wayne Rooney
The former England captain and record goalscorer played in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups. The 16-handicapper has played golf since he was seven years old, initially playing ‘cack handed’. He was a regular at Prestbury GC in Cheshire before heading to the States to manage DC United. and ranks playing with Rory McIlroy as his greatest golfing moment.

RELATED: My Life in Golf: Wayne Rooney

Alan Shearer
Scored twice in his solitary World Cup in 1998, when England were knocked out by Argentina on penalties in the last 16. A fiercely competitive six-handicapper.

Luis Figo
The Portuguese idol played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid and appeared in two World Cups (2002, 2006). He plays off single figures.

Pep Guardiola
The Man City boss was capped 47 times by Spain and represented his country in the 1994 World Cup. An enthusiastic golfer, but he won’t be happy with his 10-handicap.

Dwight Yorke
Graced the 2006 World Cup with Trinidad and Tobago. The former Manchester United man is a class act on the course too – he once played off plus-three!

Roy Wegerle
South African-born striker who played for the USA 41 times, including two WCs (1994 and 1998). After hanging up his boots, he switched his focus to golf and became a playing pro at one point.

Michael Owen
Scored four goals for England over three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2006), and although horse racing takes up most of his time these days, he’s still a very steady single-figure player.

RELATED: My Life in Golf – Joe Root and Stuart Broad

Want to get the most from Today’s Golfer? Sign up for TG Membership!