HARRY KANE has always been a player with plenty of drive.
Although still only 28, the England captain already has one eye on life after football and is thinking about remaining in professional sport, albeit as a golfer.
It is not exactly unusual for a footballer to spend half his life on the golf course.
Yet Kane, almost certain to end the year as England’s all-time record goalscorer, could join that elite group of sportsmen who have turned their hands to different sports.
After tonight’s Nations League clash with Hungary, Kane will have just three weeks off after another rigorous season.
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Yet during this short break, he will fly to America’s east coast to take part in a golf tournament called the Icons Series, which features sports stars from around the world.
The event in New Jersey takes place on June 30 and July 1 and also includes boxer Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and former NFL star Michael Strahan.
Asked if he dreams of pulling on the Green Jacket after winning The Masters in Augusta, Kane said: “Yes, you never know. I’m doing all right. I’m playing off scratch at the moment.
“I’ve got the Icons Series near New York at the end of the month, which will be good fun, playing under pressure in front of a crowd.
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Prem fixtures ‘leaked’ with Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea in horror openers
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“It’s like a Ryder Cup format, where 12 sports stars from the rest of the world play 12 sports stars from America. It’s at Liberty National. I’m looking forward to playing.
“For the Rest of the World, James Milner is playing, Canelo, Michael Phelps from America, Michael Strahan, who I’m friends with.”
Pressed on whether he is considering becoming a pro golfer, Kane said: “That’s a long way away. You never say never in anything. I’m way off what the pros are at… at the moment.
“I’m concentrating on football. Golf is a great hobby to have to get away from football, especially during the season as well. That’s what I use it for… at the moment.”
One person also featuring in the forthcoming golf tournament, which Kane forgot to mention yesterday, is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Their conversation will certainly be interesting. Kane was desperate to move to City last summer but that was blocked by Tottenham.
With City yesterday completing the arrival of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, that ship has now sailed for Kane and he is certain to remain with Spurs.
After his short break, Kane will be on a plane with the rest of the Tottenham squad for a two-game trip to South Korea, with Son Heung-min the main attraction.
Spurs also have a friendly against Roma and former boss Jose Mourinho in Israel.
Kane said: “You’ve heard, not just in our squad but from other international players, that we play too much.
“Getting three weeks off after a tough season makes it difficult to refresh and recharge mentally.
“We return around July 8, so it’s just over three weeks — then we head off to Korea. But that’s part and parcel of our jobs.
“Do I think it will change? Probably not. Every competition, you want to be a part of and play in. Four games in this camp is a little bit different with the World Cup being in the winter.
“Yes, there has to be a balance but I’m never going to be one to complain about playing football matches.”
Kane goes into tonight’s game on 50 goals, just three behind Wayne Rooney’s record of 53.
When Rooney became England’s sole leading scorer with goal No 50 after a penalty in a 2-0 win over Switzerland in 2015, a 22-year-old Kane had scored the opener for what was his third senior international strike.
Kane said: “I remember that night he broke the record, playing and scoring in that game, I remember how much it meant to him and even to me for being a part of it.
“I kept the shirt from that day and I have it up in my house. Not for any reason but maybe looking at that every day gave me the motivation to one day try to achieve that.
“I’m close. I’m not there yet and I’ve still got a few more goals to go — but I’ve been happy with my England career so far.”
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Prem fixtures ‘leaked’ with Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea in horror openers
England manager Gareth Southgate was asked about why Kane is so good.
He said: “There’s the technical and then there’s the mentality.
“Technically he is an incredible finisher. You watch players work in training and balls come at different angles and there is a calmness to that but the technique is still at top level.
“Then there’s this mentality of ‘how do I get better? What do I need to do to be in the best condition? What is it that might add to the tools that I’ve got? Is it physical? Is it a technical practice? Is it something tactical?’
“He has just got that insatiable drive to be the best he can possibly be.
“He’s committed to living his life the right way, eating the right things, the right sort of recovery — whatever that takes, however long that takes.
“It’s no surprise in the end that you get to the level that you do.”