LOS ANGELES – With a U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, celebrities were bound to come out and catch the action off Wilshire Boulevard.
But Justin Thomas was surprised to see one particular person following his Tuesday practice round alongside Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and amateur Michael Brennan.
“I was like, damn, I didn’t think I’d get to see Metta World Peace today,” he said with a laugh.
The former NBA champion and All-Star was known as both Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, but now goes by Metta Sandiford-Artest. The 43-year-old spent 17 seasons in the NBA with six different teams, but 18 months ago found the game of golf thanks to another former basketball player, none other than three-time champion and Los Angeles Lakers legend “Big Game James” Worthy.
“I don’t know. I don’t even know NBA players’ names, let alone these guys,” said Sandiford-Artest. “I love basketball, but I really love golf now. I’m so happy I found the sport. Really, really happy I found the sport.”
The New York native and St. John’s product freely admits he isn’t very good, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking advantage of every opportunity to play that he can.
“I’ve been getting invited to play at different places, so I’m showing up to any course I can play at, especially a good course,” he said with a laugh. “If people invite me anywhere, like Bermuda, I’ll go play.”
Sandiford-Artest is really just happy he can get his ball in the air and going straight for once, noting how “My first year and a half, everything was scraping the floor.” A Lakers star in his own right and way, Sandiford-Artest won his only title with the team in 2010 and plans to come catch the action this week at the ultra-exclusive club tucked away in Beverly Hills.
“I like it because you have to focus. If you fall asleep, the balls are gonna turn right or left on you. So you can focus and compete, and you’re competing against yourself for the most part, which I really love.
“I think golf is a sport for me.”
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