Lonely golfer Hugh Grant

Nov 17, 2009, 9:42 GMT

Hugh Grant says he can't get a girlfriend because of his golf obsession.

The Hollywood bachelor - who previously dated actress Elizabeth Hurley for 13 years and socialite Jemima Khan for three years - has revealed the sport is his first love and he even gets up in the middle of the night to practice his swing.

The 49-year-old actor told Britain's Daily Express newspaper: "When you say to a girl 'I play golf' her eyes glaze over. I do feel guilty about my golf. You know you're a sad case when you spend your spare time reading books on putting or going on YouTube to watch slow motion golf swings.

"I'll get out of bed in the middle of the night and practice my swing in front of the mirror. I'm obsessed and it's destroying my life. Golf is an addiction."

The 'Notting Hill' star - who has previously revealed he has travelled thousands of miles to play 18 holes - also spoke about the "physical sensation" he gets when he hits the little white balls.

He said: "I've decided the most addictive element is the physical sensation when in a rare moment you hit the ball flush in the middle of the club. The only thing that comes close is when I was taught to play the piano - the vibration when you hit a beautiful chord."