Lando Norris, the newly crowned Formula 1 world champion, has literally fallen head over heels for golf, a sport he discovered just six years ago thanks to Carlos Sainz. A true golf addict, the Englishman now plays an eight-handicap. Certainly, as soon as he takes his foot off the accelerator of his car, he'll be looking to improve even further.
Lando Norris, statements
Upon reflection, it may seem absurd: from the steering wheel and horsepower of a McLaren to the trolley and clubs in a golf bag. From the hundredths of a second that decide a career to the minutes of waiting for the green to clear. From chaos to silence. Yet, for Norris, Formula 1 and golf are opposites of the same coin: competition. Pure adrenaline, just in different gradations.
Lando Norris's most recent golfing adventures lead to England. In September, at Wentworth (not far from the McLaren Technology Centre), the Englishman played in the Pro-Am of the BMW PGA Championship. Norris was on the team with Matthew Fitzpatrick. In addition to the eleven players nominated for the 2025 Ryder Cup, the competition featured stars like Gareth Bale, Zak Brown, Robbie Fowler, John Terry, and Andy Murray.
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In 2023, the driver, now 29, also participated in the Netflix Cup at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas. Partnered with Rickie Fowler, Norris gave the Carlos SainzJustin Thomas duo a run for their money, who went on to win the trophy.
It was Golf Digest that brought Norris to the forefront of golf. In an interview, the Englishman described his first experience on the green: "I'm not lying, I used to watch golf on TV and think, 'This is the most boring thing in the world.'" Then his then-partner Carlos Sainz convinced him to join him on the course, and everything changed.
"I'm completely addicted," he says today, "I can't even explain how addicted I am. I watch it every week, I watch it on TV, I check my handicap. Golf is a virus that has hit me hard: it's fantastic."
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Today, Norris compares the pursuit of golf improvement to the endless pursuit of the perfect lap on the track.
Thanks to his constant wandering around Formula 1, Landohas had the opportunity to play on some of the most exclusive courses in the world. He experienced the thrill of turning onto Magnolia Lane (and often sports the green cap he got at Augusta National) and played at Grove XXIII, Michael Jordan's private club in Florida, where he played alongside Dustin Johnson.
