Andy Murray wins first trophy since retiring from tennis after taking up new sport

Andy Murray has taken up golf since retiring from tennis earlier this year and has wasted no time in getting to grips with his new sport, winning his first trophy

Andy Murray has triumphed in his latest sporting challenge, swapping his tennis racquet for golf clubs to claim the first trophy since retiring from professional tennis. Since his departure following an Olympic Games doubles match on August 1, the former tennis icon has been perfecting his swing on the greens.

Previously known for his succinct Twitter bio which stated, "I play tennis", Murray has now updated it to reflect his new passion: "I played tennis. I now play golf."

The 37 year old's competitive spirit clearly remains undiminished as he aims to achieve a scratch handicap within the next few years. Murray took part in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth and received high praise from fellow Scotsman Bob MacIntyre.

His dedication paid off during the inaugural BTJA Mike Dickson Golf Day this Tuesday at Hanbury Manor Golf Club in Hertfordshire, where he was named champion. Remembering the late Daily Mail journalist Mike Dickson, the event by the British Tennis Journalists' Association shone a spotlight on Murray's growing prowess in golf, currently playing off a seven handicap.

Regular lessons are fuelling his improvement, with world No. 16 MacIntyre endorsing his potential, stating, "For someone that's not really played that much, I thought he was good," and adding, "I was very impressed with his game. He'll be scratch in no time.", reports the Mirror.

Andy Murray has been candid about his foray into a different sporting arena, expressing a mix of nerves and excitement. Speaking at Wentworth, he said, "It's a different sort of nerves, because you are comfortable in the sort of tennis environment. I'm not thinking I'm going to walk out on the tennis court and forget how to hit the ball," highlighting the contrast with his tennis expertise.

"Whereas here, there's people standing five metres away from where I'm driving, and I'm like, I'm useless at this game. You just want to try and keep the ball in play and don't mess up too much."

He also noted the benefits of practice and coaching, adding, "I'm obviously getting to practice a lot more than the average person. I obviously played a bit when I was younger, and if I can get the right sort of lessons and practice the right things, then yeah, I've got a chance of doing that."

Murray further emphasised the importance of proper guidance, saying, "The lessons have made a huge difference. That's been the most important thing for me. I used to go down to the range and hit lots of balls, and I could hit a few good ones. But if you have a fundamental flaw in your swing or what you're doing, it doesn't matter how many balls you hit on the range. So, getting lessons and practising those things is helping."