“Ex-Premier League Star Breaks Barriers to Become PGA Pro – ‘No One From My Background Has Made Golf History, So I Stepped Up!’”

Peter Odemwingie, the former forward for clubs such as West Brom, Cardiff, and Stoke, as well as Lille and Lokomotiv Moscow, was known for frequently switching teams throughout his football career. One of his most memorable moments came during the 2013 winter transfer window, when he infamously showed up at QPR’s Loftus Road, determined to force through a move from West Bromwich Albion—an attempt that ultimately failed but showcased his fearless approach to taking risks.

 

Now, five years after officially retiring from football, Odemwingie is taking on a new challenge. The 43-year-old, who earned 65 caps for Nigeria, competed in two World Cups, four AFCON tournaments, and won an Olympic silver medal, has traded in the football field for the golf course and become a professional golfer.

 

Instead of pursuing a typical post-retirement path in coaching or punditry, Odemwingie spent the last three years studying at university to earn the necessary qualifications to go pro in golf. Born in Tashkent (now Uzbekistan), Odemwingie credits his diverse background as part of the reason he sought out something different. He now hopes to inspire the next generation to take up golf.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with going into coaching or punditry, which I did for a while after retiring,” Odemwingie explained to *FourFourTwo*. “But I’ve always had a genuine passion for golf. Even if I don’t leave a mark, just playing at this level is enough for me. I also looked at my Russian-Nigerian heritage and realized that no one from my background had ever made history in elite-level golf, so I felt like it was a space I needed to fill.”

 

Unlike his infamous QPR transfer saga, Odemwingie took a more traditional approach to his golfing ambitions. “First, I had to study at university for three years and then pass the playing ability test,” he shared. “It wasn’t easy—especially in the second year, when I had to take in a lot of information—but I kept pushing through. Now, I’m officially a professional PGA golfer.”

 

Odemwingie believes golf offers a unique balance between maintaining athleticism and enjoying a more relaxed, long-term career. “Golf is a sport you can play well into old age,” he said. “Football careers are short, but in golf, you can keep playing as long as you can walk. There’s even a seniors tour, like the one Bernhard Langer played on until he was 66. It promotes a healthy lifestyle and discipline, so it was a no-brainer for me to become a PGA Professional.”

 

As for switching clubs, Odemwingie can now embrace it on the golf course—no need for dramatic standoffs outside stadiums. The former footballer is ready for his next big adventure, swapping one ball

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for another.