Jerry Rice will make his golfing debut Thursday in a Nationwide Tour event after receiving a sponsor's exemption into the field.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime here," Rice said. "You know I'm a competitor. I don't want to go out there and have those players who are playing on the Nationwide Tour think this is a publicity stunt for attention. It's not. ... I have the opportunity to go out and prove to everybody I can play golf."
The 47-year-old Rice will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
Rice has been playing golf for more than 20 years.
Jerry Rice Hopes To Become Pro Golfer