Klitschko says Sanders defeat led him to golf

St Andrews -  Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko revealed at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship that his defeat against the late Corrie Sanders was one of the reasons he turned to golf.

The Ukrainian is playing as one of the many celebrity amateur golfers in this week’s pro-am tournament, which starts today and is played over the three courses of the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.

Sanders beat Klitschko in their 2003 WBO title fight, which the South African won with a knockout in the second round.

Stunned by the defeat, Klitschko says he decided to study everything about his opponent thereafter, including Sanders’ love for golf.

“Corrie was a golfer and I wanted to understand why he was faster and hitting harder than my other opponents,” Klitschko said.

“I wanted to understand and study Corrie better. It’s like in chess: to see what they see, sit where they sit.”