Olympics’ greatest swimmer brings different stroke to links

For someone who spent virtually his entire life in the water, Michael Phelps is quickly finding out that his newest vocation lends itself to avoiding the wet stuff whenever possible.

The Olympic swimming medalist who retired after last summer’s London Olympics as the most decorated athlete in the history of the games with 22 total medals — 18 gold — has taken up golf. Unfortunately, is finding the water frequently this week.

Some habits are apparently hard to break.

“Yeah, I’m finding that out pretty quick,” Phelps said with a laugh Friday at Shadow Creek, where he is participating in this weekend’s Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational. “But I love playing. You’re outside. You get to play on beautiful courses like this, and while it’s certainly frustrating at times, it’s still a lot of fun.”

Phelps, 27, has been playing seriously for six months. Cashing in on his celebrity, he was the latest to participate in teaching pro Hank Haney’s reality TV show on The Golf Channel, “The Haney Project.”

“It was a little rough at first between me and Hank, but we get along great now,” Phelps said. “I’m learning a lot.”

His backswing and his tempo tend to run to the quick side. But Phelps is still trying to find that comfort zone that every golfer seeks.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t see golf as being the perfect substitute for my competitiveness. I mean, would I like to be a scratch golfer someday? Sure. But right now, I’m just trying to learn the game and have fun.”

Phelps said he’s probably best with a putter in his hands than any other club in his bag.

“I played a round with Dustin Johnson a couple of months ago and he gave me a couple of tips,” Phelps said. “I’d say putting’s my strong suit right now.”

Phelps appeared to be enjoying himself Friday in perfect spring weather. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, chatted up the other celebrities playing in the event and wasn’t taking himself too seriously.

“For years, all I did was stare down at a black line at the bottom of a pool,” he said. “Now, I get to enjoy this beautiful scenery, and I love it.”

Phelps didn’t swim collegiately, though his sister Whitney did for UNLV from 1998 to 2000 before a bad back forced her from the pool for good. He swam in the Rebels’ Buchanan Natatorium before it was renovated in 2009. He remembered the experience, and it wasn’t exactly a golden moment.

“I was in town for a convention, and I do remember using UNLV’s pool,” he said. “I know they were getting ready to fix it up, but the coach (Jim Reitz) was really nice to let me use the pool. He coached my sister, so it was more of a favor. But I’ve swam in dungeons worse than that.”

As soon as he’s done playing today, Phelps will park himself in front of a TV and watch Michigan face Syracuse in the Final Four.

“I went there for three years, so I’m a Michigan man,” said Phelps, who attended the school from 2003 to 2005 to be near his coach, Bob Bowman, who trained Phelps since he was 11 and was the Wolverines’ coach. “I expect them to be playing Louisville Monday for all the marbles.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.