Eric Risberg/AP
Steph Curry is one of the top basketball players in the game, but three-pointers aren't the only kind of shot he likes to take.The Golden State Warriors guard and two-time MVP is an avid golfer - the best golfer in the NBA - and according to the San Francisco Chronicle, he'll get a chance to test his game against the pros this August at the Ellie Mae Classic.
The tournament, which has been held at California's TPC Stonebrae since 2009, is part of the Web.com Tour, the PGA Tour's developmental circuit. The Warriors Community Foundation is its main charity beneficiary. Most of the spots in the field will be decided via the tour's complex eligibility ranking, but Curry will be one of the event's four sponsor exemptions.
"When I found out I was getting a sponsor exemption, I had a lot of emotions because I love to play golf; it's a passion of mine," Curry said in a pre-recorded message released on Wednesday morning. "But to be able to play against the next and best golf professionals will be a huge honor and huge treat."
Check out the full video below:
Curry has established a reputation as one of the NBA's biggest golf nuts. He was the top golfer in his high school, and he thrilled PGA Tour fans at the Safeway Open Pro-Am last fall. He even shot a 70 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in June 2015. And, of course, there was the time he said he daydreams about golf on the Warriors sideline during timeouts.
Curry has a 2.2 handicap and is a long shot to make the cut, but his primary aims are to enjoy the experience and be an ambassador for his team.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully not embarrassing myself, but mostly having a lot of fun and hopefully raising a lot of money for the foundation," he said. "I'm going to try to keep it in the fairway."
.@StephenCurry30 to compete with the pros at this summer's @elliemaeclassic ⛳️🏌🏽
Full Info » https://t.co/N6TaCk03Nm pic.twitter.com/ncv5Aupo1X
- GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) June 28, 2017