Thomas Müller despite rain at Son Gual: 18 holes and a relaxed walk across the green

Thomas Müller despite rain at Son Gual: 18 holes and a relaxed walk across the green

On Boxing Day Son Gual near Palma offered a scene not often seen in the island's usually sunny winter: grey skies, wind pushing clouds over the pine trees, paths smelling of wet earth — and Thomas Müller strolling his 18 holes on the fairway. Despite rain and a cool 12 °C, the football icon was not deterred.

Contact with the course was by chance: golf instructor Olaf Möhle met Müller during play, took two selfies and later shared the brief, sympathetic acknowledgment on Facebook: "18 holes in the rain. Respect." Möhle, who commented the encounter with a wink and a photo of his dog Rocky, described how Rocky immediately took a shine to the guest — a small, human detail that made many people smile that afternoon.

Anyone driving past Son Gual near Palma knows the scene, similar to a recent Rainy Day in Santa Ponsa: A Walk among Wet Palms and Café Roofs: short showers, the scent of wet pine resin and the occasional distant horn on the MA-13. Not the classic celebrity parade you see in high-season reports. Müller kept a low profile on his own channels and posted no pictures of his visit. That fits the image many have of him: someone who prefers to spend his free time doing sport or with family rather than remaining in the public eye. The island often sees brief showers and a fresh breeze, as noted in Sóller today: Rain, Tramuntana breeze and cozy moments.

Peter from the golf club, a voice from the group, chuckled: "He played the holes like anyone else. No fuss, no security barriers." For the members and guests present it was a little adrenaline boost in the winter grey — a famous face simply playing. Encounters like this do the island good in the low season: they bring attention, yes, but above all memories and anecdotes that are told in cafés and clubs for days afterwards.

Privately Müller keeps most of his life in Upper Bavaria: the Gut Wettlkam stud farm in Otterfing is his home, a roughly 15-hectare property with spacious stables and living quarters in which he and his wife have invested. He also owns an apartment in Munich's Gärtnerplatz district. Since the summer of 2025 Müller has been playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps; his chapter at FC Bayern ended after 25 years and 756 competitive matches — but his passion for movement remains, whether on the pitch or on the green.

For Mallorca a visit like this has simple, positive effects: a quiet winter day with a well-known athlete provides conversation in bars like the one on Passeig Mallorca, encourages golf enthusiasts to use the courses outside the high season, and shows that the island is more than holiday tourism. The golf season here has a few quiet months, but moments like this remind people why players from all over Europe come to Mallorca in winter — not just for the weather, but for the greens, the calm and the good company.

If you're thinking of playing a round yourself: pack a warm jacket, enjoy the scent of wet grass and take it like Thomas Müller — just play through, even if the sky is grey. Days like these belong to Mallorca, and they are an invitation: the island lives differently in winter, but no less vibrantly.

Why this is good for Mallorca: A well-known visitor who behaves normally and respects the course sends an unexcited signal in the low season: Mallorca is a place for sport and everyday life, not just loud summer holidays. Small encounters like this keep the local economy, courses and conversations running — and remind us that passion is weather-independent.