Tony Romo to Play in PGA Tour Event on Sponsor's Exemption

Tony Romo is returning to professional sports—this time as a golfer. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback will play at the 2018 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in March under a sponsor's exemption.

"As a professional athlete, the love and thrill of competition never entirely leaves you," Romo said in a statement. "Outside of my family and football, golf is one of my greatest passions. So, playing and competing in a PGA Tour event is a dream come true. I am grateful to the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship for giving me an incredible opportunity to test my skills against some of the best on Tour."

Romo, 37, is an avid golfer who has tried and failed to qualify for the U.S. Open on multiple occasions—most recently last year. He advanced to sectional qualifying in 2010 but had to withdraw when it conflicted with his football schedule.

"As a first-year PGA TOUR event, we are elated to have Tony Romo accept our offer to play in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship," said Grupo Puntacana founder and chairman Frank Rainieri. "Tony Romo rose to an elite level in professional football, and then quickly became a popular and well-regarded broadcaster for CBS when he retired. He has a history of achieving success in the face of major challenges. And now he’s going to face a new one, the rare opportunity to compete as an amateur against the world’s best golfers. We are very excited to see how this plays out."

Romo has been a regular at the American Century Championship, including three runner-up finishes (2009-2011). He retired following the 2016 season, taking a job as CBS' lead play-by-play commentator next to Jim Nantz.