Warnie: Cricket’s Spin King’s Passing Brings Sadness To Top Golfers

4 years ago by Comments Off on Warnie: Cricket’s Spin King’s Passing Brings Sadness To Top Golfers

The shock news of the passing of ‘Spin King’ Shane Warne has not only taken the cricket world by surprise but some of the greats in golf have also broken down in tears in learning of Warne’s passing – at age just 52.

“Warnie’, as he was known affectionately to everyone around the globe, died of a heart attack while on vacation in Thailand.

The Aussie-born cricketing great, who took 702 Test wickets in his career, had been last seen at a golf event when he teamed with Kiwi Ryan Fox at the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last October in Scotland.  In speaking of Fox, one of the first congratulatory text messages the New Zealander received soon after his recent DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic win at Al Hamra was from his Dunhill Links partner.

Warnie had been a great supporter of the annual team’s event since 2001 when the pro-amateur format of the tournament replaced the former Dunhill Cup and the new format a great chance for some of the best cricketers in the world to compete alongside some of Europe’s best golfers, and with like of Ian ‘Beefy’ Botham and Michael Vaughan regular Scotland starters.

In the earlier years of the event, Warne partnered fellow Aussie Peter O’Malley and their golfing relationship became so strong that Warnie caddied for O’Malley when ‘POM’ made his Senior British Open debut in 2015 at Sunningdale.

An extended break that year between Ashes Tests allowed Warne time on the golf course, but at that time he was, in his own words, just carrying a bag. Warnie was commentating for Sky Sports on the Ashes series in which England and Australia are currently tied at 1-1 after two Tests.

There’s a great photograph taken in 2002 at the Monte Carlo Golf Club when Warnie and fellow Australian cricketer Steve Waugh taken with Gary Player in the pro-am for the European Seniors Tour Monte Carlo Invitational.

Warnie’s also played golf with Ladies European Tour star Carly Booth

Warnie also has been a regular guest golfing charity events and pro-ams including later in 2015 when he and Aussie rugby legend, Nick Farr-Jones joined the group featuring Jordan Spieth, the then reigning Masters and US Open champion, and reigning Australian Open title-holder. There is a great shot of Spieth teeing-off with a cricket bat.

Reigning Masters and US Open champion, Jordan Spieth with Shane Warne during the 2015 Australian Open Pro-Am (Photo – @TourMiss)

A year later in 2016 England golfer Andy Sullivan found his BMW PGA Championship partners as being Warnie and ‘Beefy’ Botham.

Warnie and golfing legends Tiger Woods became friends having met a few times when Woods traveled to tee-up in Australia.   Two years ago, Warnie shared a picture with Woods taken at a pro-am dinner in Melbourne.  In subsequent interviews following their meeting,

Golfing legend Tiger Woods with cricketing legend Tiger Woods in Melbourne. (Photo – Shane Warne)

Warnie spoke about the time the duo spent together and their similarities. Warnie revealed he and Tiger Woods spoke about the mental aspect of sports and overcoming setbacks. Warne also revealed that the duo talked about entertaining people and messing with their opponents was something that they certainly enjoyed.

Alfred Dunhill leads the ‘golfing’ Twitter posts in memory of Warnie:

Heading the golfer tributes to Warnie is four-time major-winning Ernie Els.

Trevor Immelman

Scott Hend

Bernd Wiesberger

Wade Ormsby

Paul McGinley

Tony Johnstone

Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley (SKY Sports Golf)

Ryan Fox

Bernie McGuire – Golf By Tour Miss

Rory McIlroy

“I got to know Shane very well. I spent some good times with him. Really, really sad,” said McIlroy.

“He was the life of the party, lit up a room, loved golf. He was really, really good mates with some of my good friends. Yeah, it’s just a real shame that he’s gone so early, I think only 52.

“I think he leaves three kids behind as well, which is sad. Yeah, I think we all have really fond memories of him. Obviously, one of the best cricketers ever.

“Yeah, really sad, but anyone you meet just had great things to say about him. So, he’ll be missed but very fondly remembered.”



Comments are closed.