“Lucky mascot” Kelly Slater set to compete against soccer stud Gareth Bale, football legend John Elway in important golf championship

"I like to go to the golf course because I can choose the few people I want to be around."

Surf star Kelly Slater’s life, since fathering a son, has been nothing if not a wild blur of luxury and excess. One moment he’s in France, the next Rome and finally, when you think it cannot get anymore fabulous, he’s on his way to Scotland in order to play an important golf game on the world’s oldest course.

St. Andrew’s, called the “home of golf” since the game has been played there for hundreds of years, is hosting the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this coming weekend and Slater will be there, playing for glory in the team division. He is partnered with a professional with the last name Jones, though no further information is given about him. Welsh soccer stud Gareth Bale and American football legend John Elway are also in the draw. Mick Fleetwood may be as well.

Slater, in any case, has been on two winning teams, previously, and, according to reports, is considered a “lucky mascot.”

The 11x surfing champion once told journalist Graham Bensinger, “I like to go to the golf course because I can choose the few people I want to be around. It’s quiet and it’s just me and the game. It’s another challenge and I like challenges.”

He later added, “Golf and surfing are kind of ultimate challenges. They’re really almost opposite each other. Surfing’s all movement, energy, nature and whatever. And the golf course is kind of just sitting there waiting for you to make yourself look bad.”

There was some hope that the 57-year-old would find some time to name his aforementioned baby boy this month, but it has now faded.

Back to “the few people” Slater wants to be around, though. Who do you think is currently on that list?

JD Vance?

David Lee Scales and I mentioned him during our scary halloween special. I think you’ll find it enjoyable.