Three stars of this week’s Turkish Airlines Open took to the stage of the near 2,000 Theatre of Aspendos, and located around a 20-minute drive from this week’s host Montgomerie Maxx Royal course.
The stars – Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia – then hit golf balls over the back wall of remarkable ancient Roman ruin.
The shots, off a raised artificial mat, needed to carry around 80-yard high wall that was no trouble for the trio of European Ryder Cup stars.
However Stenson had everyone present ducking for cover when he teed up a golf ball on the top of an empty drink bottle and only managing to send the ball flying into the middle section of the theater that was build between 161 – 180 AD.
World Number Three Garcia said: “The Amphitheatre is an amazing place – this must be one of the coolest places I have ever hit a golf shot. I’m very excited about the week ahead actually – this is my first time in Turkey and it is a pretty amazing country with so much culture and history.
“It’s a big week for me obviously – I am one of the only guys with a chance to catch Rory in The Race to Dubai so I have to win this week to try and put some pressure on him.”
Westwood, who has been supporting golf in Turkey since the inaugural Turkish Airlines World Golf Challenge Match Play event in 2012, said: “I’m not sure they have been playing golf for as long as the Amphitheatre has been here but it feels like we are playing 2000 years ago with this backdrop!
“This place is pretty amazing – I don’t think I have played golf anywhere near as historical as this place. Hopefully it can give me a little bit extra inspiration to do well this week.”
Stenson finished in a tie for seventh place at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal last year as he completed his unforgettable season by becoming the first player in history to win The Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.
He said: “It’s great to be back in Turkey and to be able to come to a place like the Amphitheatre of Aspendos is very cool. We do a lot of these photoshoots around the world and this is definitely up there with the most spectacular.
“Hopefully the golf can match these surroundings this week. I really enjoyed the tournament last year and obviously was on a pretty good run at that point so I am looking for more of the same and a little extra as I would love to win one of these big events before the end of the year.”
Stenson, Garcia and Westwood making their way into the main arena at the Theatre of Aspendos.
Garcia, Westwood and Stenson trying to hit wedge shots over the top wall of the 2,000 year old Theatre of Aspendos
Sergio Garcia taking a ‘selfie’ on the stage area of the Theater of Aspendos.
Getty Image’s Richard Heathcote and colleague in a precarious position.
Henrik Stenson using driver to hit a golf ball off the top of a drink bottle within the Theatre of Aspendos
Henrik Stenson watches Sergio Garcia’s ball tumble down the stone seating area of the Theatre of Aspendos.
The near 2,000 year old Theatre of Aspendos seats 15,000 patrons.
Ground level at the Theatre of Aspendos.
Henrik Stenson admiring the postcards on display.
