Ever wonder why so many tennis players are into golf? It seems like it’s their go-to downtime activity. Probably because both sports are all about focus, strategy, and picking the right shot. Plus, let’s be honest, golf is a little less physically brutal than tennis. Frances Tiafoe even calls tennis the “hardest sport in the world,” so it makes sense he’d want to chill out on the golf course sometimes. He was even spotted golfing with his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, recently. We know Tiafoe’s a tennis whiz, but the big question is: how’s his golf game?

Frances Tiafoe’s love for basketball is well known. Lots of pro basketball players come to his matches, and he even played in the celebrity game at last year’s NBA All-Star weekend. The Washington Wizards thought so highly of him that they even gave out his bobblehead at one of their games. But golf?

Well, this weekend, his long-time girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, shared a reel on her Instagram account. In that video clip, Tiafoe was spotted giving a ride to Broomfield on a golf cart. Later on, both of them tried a few big swings on the lush green grass and Broomfield captioned that post with, “so, we suck … but a Sunday afternoon well spent 🫶🏽.“

After seeing this post, Frances Tiafoe shared that post on his social media with a cheeky caption: “Why you lying to the world and only posting my bad shots im him at golf 😂😂😂 @ayan.broomfield.” Perhaps, the American tennis star was a little embarrassed with his poor shot selections that were put on display in that video clip.

If we take a closer look at the craze for golf in the tennis world, Rafael Nadal is the first name that comes to attention. Do you know Rafael Nadal has competed in the Balearic Mid–Amateur Championship three times in the last four years, winning the 2024 editing? Even Norwegian star Casper Ruud once said, “Sometimes I dream that I could play in a tournament on the PGA Tour or European tour.” Meanwhile, the Australian tennis star, Alex de Mianaur, describes himself as an “Instagram golfer.”

Well, for Tiafoe, this wasn’t the only time. In March last year, he shared a similar post where he was seen trying hands at golf. He had then shared a post on his IG stories with the caption, “I’m him, PERIOD.” Context?

Renowned American rapper Kevin Gates popularized this term in 2019 when he released an album titled, “I’m him.” At that time, we saw NBA stars, including LeBron James and a few others, making his phrase a trend. This phrase is normally used to depict a dominant figure from a certain field but Tiafoe has perhaps used this to mock his golfing skills.

Not only Tiafoe though, even his girlfriend is often seen trying her hands at this sport. In October 2024, Broomfield gave Frances Tiafoe a virtual tour of her progress on the golf course. She shared a glimpse of her big swing on a Facetime call, while Tiafoe was busy having a haircut at a barbershop.

Frances Tiafoe and Ayan Broomfield have been together since 2015, and they’ve definitely become one of tennis’s favorite couples! Is it just the love for the sport which has brought them closer?

What is the secret behind this special relationship between Frances Tiafoe and Ayan Broomfield?

Well, sports helped them meet each other, but mutual love and support brought them closer in the last few years. In a previous interview, Ayan Broomfield revealed, “We both played junior tennis at a very high level. I’m from Canada, so I was playing for my country, Frances was playing for the States.“

She further added, “And then one of our mutual friends was like, ‘Well, you guys actually would be really good friends.’ So we started talking then and became best friends for a bit. It’s been eight, nine years now. It’s been a journey.” So, that’s how it all began!

On Valentine’s Day this year, Ayan Broomfield dropped a romantic 3-word message on Frances Tiafoe’s post which captioned, “Happy v day to my day one. I love you baby and I’m sooo thankful for you everyday damn day. My rock, my everything @ayan.broomfield ❤️❤️.” And the way they support each other through thick and thin is insane!

In 2023, when Frances Tiafoe had made it to the Top 10 for the first time in the men’s singles ranking, Broomfield’s heartfelt note to her boyfriend said, “You’ve rocked with me thru it all. The good the bad and the standstills. It’s been a ride no one can put into words. You mean more to me than you can ever imagine. I love you with all I got.” Now, since the 27-year-old Canadian has put tennis on the backseat, what are her goals for the near future?

Well, in reply to this question in a previous interview, she highlighted, “Right now, the goal is to get Frances to be a Grand Slam champion. So right now, obviously I have stuff on the side that I’m doing that’s for me personally so that I feel self-fulfilled, but at the end of the day, that’s the goal that we’ve kind of sat down and thought about. That’s what we’re going to go after.” 

Do you think with the support of his girlfriend and his fans, Tiafoe can finally manage to change his fortunes in 2025?