Tennis: World number one Ash Barty skipped the French Open and has instead won her golf club championship

World number one Ash Barty opted against defending her French Open title at Roland Garros but has put her down time to good use, taking out a local golf title.

Ash Barty impressed during the Presidents Cup launch on the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne. Pic: Michael Klein

World number one Ash Barty opted against defending her French Open title at Roland Garros but has not gone without silverware.

The outstandingly talented all-rounder, who had a stint in the WBBL with the Brisbane Heat before returning to beat the world’s best tennis players, has racked up a title win in golf.

Barty, who earned plaudits from Tiger Woods for her swing during a promotional event in Melbourne last year, took out the women’s club championship at Brookwater Golf Club south of Brisbane last weekend.

✔️ World no 1️⃣ tennis player 🎾
✔️ Grand slam winner 🇫🇷
✔️ Pro cricketer 🏏

And now…

✔️ Brookwater Club Champ‼️⛳️

Certainly an athlete of so many talents! Congrats @ashbarty 🥳🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/7Y7zHmVhkQ

— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) September 21, 2020

Barty is a single-figure handicapper who was supposed to play in a celebrity tournament during last year’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

She was hitting balls to a floating green on the Yarra River last year when Woods remarked how good her swing was.,

“She‘s got a great swing, are you kidding me?” the 15-time major winner said.

Barty opted against going to Paris to defend her French Open title because of fears around COVID-19.

On Monday five players had to withdraw from qualifying for next week‘s event due to coronavirus.

Two of the five players themselves tested positive while three are confirmed to be close contacts of a coach who returned a positive result.