Begay back for sports of all sorts - Wednesday, November 29, 2006

American golfer Notah Begay III has decided to return to the sport through the European Tour but for unconventional reasons.

While sitting out for the past six years with depression and a serious back injury, Begay watched European football on television and said that the passion he saw from football players and fans gave him a desire to start playing golf again.

Begay, 34, reached the top-15 in the world golf rankings in his heyday in 1999-2000, winning four US PGA titles before dropping out of the tour because of his injury.

"(Football) gave me a passion to play again," Begay told BBC Sport.

Begay added that by joining the European circuit he would be able to see more football.

"I'm going to enjoy getting to see world-class football every week on the telly, so that's going to be a good part of my trips as well," he said.

During his time-off from golf, Begay set up a football school for Native American children in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to give him a focus during his injury period.

"I was physically bad, I was battling depression and I didn't see any alternatives other than to quit golf and try something new," he said.

"I have an economics degree from Stanford University, so I had options, but I stuck it out and got through it."

Begay tore a disc in his lower back, a particularly serious injury for golfers. He said the pain was excruciating and the injury took a long time to heal, leading to a period of depression.

"It was about this time that I started the soccer programme and it gave me the opportunity to put my time and energy into something positive."

"In a nutshell, it kept me from going into some darker places and deeper levels of depression."

The American, who is friends with world No.1 Tiger Woods from his college days, paid tribute to his family for helping him regain his passion to play.

"I've had some tremendous support from my wife, family and friends. I've used that as motivation to keep moving forward."