Tom Brady, Kenny G Make Up Top Five Celebrity Golfers

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Jun 12, 2010

Trying to find a celebrity if he's not on the set filming or on the playing field? Chances are he's hiding on a vast, open fairway, soaking up the tranquility of a par 4 while attempting to lower his handicap.

Golf has become the universal game that actors and athletes alike pick up and, unfairly, also excel in. Not many stars are on the tennis court or learning to play polo. Just like Mark Wahlberg, Wayne Gretzky and Drew Brees, they're on the links.

While those three all have impressive short games for non-PGA members, they don't stack up against these five A-list guys who get it done not only in the spotlight, but also when no one's watching on the golf course.

1. Tony Romo
His golf prowess is becoming almost as recognized as his quarterback play. The Cowboys quarterback has always had a passion for the tee box — but he also has the skills to contend. Romo was 1-under after 18 holes at a U.S. Open qualifier last month when rain suspended play until the next day. He could have finished the 36-hole tournament to see if he would be playing at Pebble Beach, but that would have conflicted with Dallas' voluntary Organized Team Activities practice, so he swapped his nine-iron for a football helmet. Romo probably would have made a run at the lead — so long as Jessica Simpson wasn't watching.

2. John Smoltz
He's the only pitcher in the history of baseball to have 200 wins and 150 saves, but he also has a mean golf game. The former Braves pitcher has a plus-2 handicap and, like Romo, tried to qualify for the U.S. Open back in May. He finished 6-over for the qualifying tournament and didn't get an invite to Pebble Beach, but not all is lost. Tiger Woods called Smoltz the best non-PGA golfer he has ever seen. Yeah, but what does he know?

3. Bill Murray
"Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac… It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" Bill Murray knows a thing or two about winning the Masters — at least as vacant groundskeeper Carl Spackler in Caddyshack. While he was only thwacking flowers in the movie, Murray has been known to golf with the best of them, annually competing in Pro-Am charity events. He also co-starred in Space Jam with MJ and hit a great tee shot (wearing an umbrella hat, no less), so that counts for something, too.

4. Tom Brady
Know how the Patriots' Golden Boy followed up his second Super Bowl MVP? By spending a few hours at Poppy Hills Golf Course. When Brady's not chucking it to Randy Moss and Wes Welker (or being a father in California — what's with that?), he is working on his drives. He also did so in an episode of Entourage last season, playing in a celebrity golf tournament. Sure, Tom's a recognizable guy, but in order to get a spot on HBO's series sensation, you've gotta be pretty good at golf as well.

5. Kenny G
Believe it or not, the epitome of masculinity, saxophonist Kenny G is a phenom on the fairways. He played for his high school golf team and maintains a handicap of 0 while balancing his worldwide tours. He's also got it done when it counts, taking home the 2001 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title with Phil Mickelson. And we all know Lefty had nothing to do with that win.

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