A quarter of sports fans believe they could score a goal in a Premier League match, while one in 10 claim they could last a round in the ring with a professional boxer, according to a survey of 2,000 UK adults who enjoy watching sport.
Confidence across multiple sports
One in seven (14%) believe they could match a professional golfer over a single hole, while 22% are confident they could beat one at crazy golf, and 18% reckon they could return a serve from a top tennis player. Some 14% think they could complete a lap of a Formula 1 circuit without finishing last, while a further 14% believe they could get through a stage of the Tour de France.
Armchair experts
The research was commissioned by Staysure ahead of the Staysure Legends Tour, which kicks off next week at Trump International Golf Links. The tournament offers amateurs the rare chance to tee up alongside the pros in its Pro-Am event. Corin Rogerson, director of sponsorship for the insurer, said: “Pro sport isn't as easy as people seemingly think it could be, but these findings show just how confident many fans are when watching from the sofa or the stands. It can seem easy when spectating, but in reality, elite athletes dedicate years to perfecting their craft, building the physical fitness, mental resilience and technical skill needed to compete at the very top. It is easy to underestimate just how difficult these sports are until you are faced with the speed, pressure and precision involved. That is what makes watching the professionals do what they do so impressive.”
Why fans think they could compete
Those who reckon they could take on a professional athlete put it down to overestimating their own abilities, or because they believe the sports look easier than they actually are. However, more than half (56%) also reckon it's because people undervalue just how skilled the sportspeople truly are. Eight in ten believe that watching professional sport can turn people into 'armchair experts' who underestimate how challenging it is to compete at that level.
Golf and underdog appeal
When it comes to golf specifically, 38% reckon an amateur would stand a chance against a professional, believing it can all come down to one fortunate shot (52%), and because pros make errors too (51%). The research, conducted via OnePoll, found 82% find stories of amateurs and underdogs succeeding in sport inspiring, and 42% would be eager to watch a novice take on a pro golfer in a head-to-head challenge. Corin Rogerson for Staysure added: “As a nation, many of us are clearly willing to back ourselves when it comes to taking on the professionals, whether that is stepping onto a golf course, returning a serve, or lasting in the ring. It was a fun reminder of the confidence many sports fans have.”
