Fellow Aussie Greg Norman has awarded Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman a six out of 10 for her golf.
Kidman lit up the red carpet laid out to welcome the glittering array of stars from entertainment and sport gathered together on the Chinese holiday island of Hainan for the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am.
The superstar was guided by Mission Hills Group Chairman and CEO Dr. Ken Chu through the flashing bulbs and the cheers of thousands gathered at Mission Hills Haikou’s Movie Town theme park, and showed the poise and class of a true professional as she stopped to shake hands with fans along the way.
Kidman has been joined in Hainan by fellow Hollywood A-listers Morgan Freeman, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans, as well as sporting greats Yao Ming and Evgeni Plushenko, who all strode the red carpet.
But it was not all glitz and glamour today for the actress as she was up early and out on the Mission Hills driving range with fellow Australian Greg Norman who took time to help Kidman work on her game.
Ian Poulter with Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman.
“I’ve taken up golf because I find it relaxing,” said Kidman. “I’ve had a long career now and I know what’s important in life. I love to go running, I love swimming. I love sport. I play golf.”
The actress said she had been wowed by the facilities at Mission Hills, including the recently opened Movie Town, built in partnership with Chinese hit-making director Feng Xiaogang and the Huayi Brothers studio.
“The theme park is beautiful, the golf courses are beautiful, everything here is beautiful,” said Kidman. “It’s a great place to come and play golf for a holiday.”
After their 90-minute training session, Norman gave the actress a six out of 10 for her game – but predicted there was plenty of improvement to come.
“She said, ‘I would like to be able to play within 10 years well enough to go out and hold my own with somebody I wanted to play with on a golf course’,” revealed Norman.
Justin Rose with Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman.
“Now that tells you a lot of things about her passion, her skill. She’s mentally ready to take it on.”
Other golfers here this week include multiple Major champion Gary Player, Ryder Cup heroes Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley, and Major winners John Daly, Ian Woosnam, Darren Clarke and Rich Beem. They have been joined by a strong line-up of the best female European players including world No 4 Suzanne Petersen.
Englishman Poulter played together today and with Poulter complimentary of the star of such movies as Days of Thunder, Eyes Wide Shut, To Die For, Batman Forever and Moulin Rouge that won her an Academy Award.
“She’s fairly new to golf so I will try and coach her around the course,” said Poulter. “She’s just starting and was on the range this morning with Greg Norman so she has been in good hands with him.”
The innovative Mission Hills Celebrity Pro-Am tournament will see 24 elite professional golfers paired with celebrities over two rounds this weekend played on Mission Hills Haikou’s signature Blackstone Course – voted Best Championship Course in Asia-Pacific at last year’s Asian Golf Awards.
Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund and Yao Ming Foundation.
The Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am is sponsored by American Express, Porsche, Stella Artois, Tibet 5100, Kohler, Lindt, San Pellegrino and Appletiser.
