<p>For almost 20 years, Michael Phelps was swim coach Bob Bowman's project. <br />But Phelps, who retired from swimming as the most decorated Olympian of all time after winning a record 22 medals including 18 golds, is now swing guru Hank Haney's project as he turns his sights on becoming a top golfer. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Phelps was on golf's biggest stage this week taking part in a Ryder Cup celebrity event where he was outclassed by comedian George Lopez and singer/actor Justin Timberlake, underscoring the long road ahead if he is to realise a dream of teeing it up on the PGA Tour. <br /><br />"Even when I'm not swimming I tend to find water one way or another," Phelps told Reuters on Thursday after watching two of his shots disappear into Lake Kadijah. <br />Phelps insists that he plans to take golf as seriously as he approached swimming and will give fans a front row seat as he takes his first steps along that journey with Tiger Woods's former coach on a golf reality show. <br /><br />Haney, who helped former world number one Woods win 31 PGA Tour events and six major championships, has previously worked with former NBA All-Star Charles Barkley, actor Ray Romano and singer Adam Levine. "I'm not saying I'm going to be on the tour, that's not it," said Phelps. "I enjoy doing this, I enjoy being outside. I have a kind of a plaque with the top 50 courses and I'm just trying to mark everyone of them off. <br />"There's always the opportunity (to play on the PGA Tour one day). I'm someone who never rules anything out." <br /><br />Bowman has said the moment he met a 10-year-old Phelps he knew he had discovered a once-in-a-lifetime swimmer every coach dreams about. While it is early in their partnership, Phelps says he sees many similarities between Bowman and Haney and expects to see the same results. <br /><br />"They (Bowman and Haney) have so many similarities," said Phelps, who was kept busy on Thursday making appearances for his sponsor and helping out with Ryder Cup opening ceremonies. I have been in the pool for 20 years and been able to do everything I wanted to do and this is the sort of the next competitive thing I am going to be doing." <br /></p>
<p>For almost 20 years, Michael Phelps was swim coach Bob Bowman's project. <br />But Phelps, who retired from swimming as the most decorated Olympian of all time after winning a record 22 medals including 18 golds, is now swing guru Hank Haney's project as he turns his sights on becoming a top golfer. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Phelps was on golf's biggest stage this week taking part in a Ryder Cup celebrity event where he was outclassed by comedian George Lopez and singer/actor Justin Timberlake, underscoring the long road ahead if he is to realise a dream of teeing it up on the PGA Tour. <br /><br />"Even when I'm not swimming I tend to find water one way or another," Phelps told Reuters on Thursday after watching two of his shots disappear into Lake Kadijah. <br />Phelps insists that he plans to take golf as seriously as he approached swimming and will give fans a front row seat as he takes his first steps along that journey with Tiger Woods's former coach on a golf reality show. <br /><br />Haney, who helped former world number one Woods win 31 PGA Tour events and six major championships, has previously worked with former NBA All-Star Charles Barkley, actor Ray Romano and singer Adam Levine. "I'm not saying I'm going to be on the tour, that's not it," said Phelps. "I enjoy doing this, I enjoy being outside. I have a kind of a plaque with the top 50 courses and I'm just trying to mark everyone of them off. <br />"There's always the opportunity (to play on the PGA Tour one day). I'm someone who never rules anything out." <br /><br />Bowman has said the moment he met a 10-year-old Phelps he knew he had discovered a once-in-a-lifetime swimmer every coach dreams about. While it is early in their partnership, Phelps says he sees many similarities between Bowman and Haney and expects to see the same results. <br /><br />"They (Bowman and Haney) have so many similarities," said Phelps, who was kept busy on Thursday making appearances for his sponsor and helping out with Ryder Cup opening ceremonies. I have been in the pool for 20 years and been able to do everything I wanted to do and this is the sort of the next competitive thing I am going to be doing." <br /></p>