"I have no intention of making it my profession" - Barty puts an end to golf rumors

Ashleigh Barty likes to walk around golf courses and play for fun, but she insists “playing professional sport, particularly golf” is just “not for me”.

Just a few months after winning the Australian Open, Barty announced her shock retirement from tennis in March. Not long after she hung up her racket, many speculated that she would take up golf as a profession or even go back to playing cricket.

When the three-time Grand Slam winner signed up for several golf exhibition events, the speculation only increased.

However, the Australian last week insisted "golf will always be just a hobby" and on Sunday she reiterated that she no longer has the desire to play professional sport.

"You guys just can’t accept that I don’t want to play professional sport anymore,” Barty said on 101.9 The Fox Melbourne’s Fifi, Fev and Nick show.

“I love golf, it’s a hobby of mine. It will not be my profession, I have no intention of making it my profession but I hack around once a week if I can — and I play off four.

“There’s no need, there’s no desire for me to play professional sport, particularly golf. I love it as a walk around with my girlfriends and friends but yeah, not for me."