| |||||||
How important would it be to you to win the FedExCup?
Well it would be very important because the FedExCup is the year-long competition that defines the PGA Tour and is our measuring stick of success. To compete all year and come out on top of the FedExCup would be awesome!
What are some of your other goals for the remainder of the year?
My main goal is always to simply keep improving, which I think I am doing. At the beginning of the year, making the President's Cup was another major goal as well. As such, I am very excited about representing the U.S. in San Francisco in October. And lastly, winning is always my primary goal, so I would like to win another time before the end of the year.
How tough was Bethpage Black, site of the U.S. Open, and how difficult was it to deal with the weather delays?
The US Open is always a very stressful test of golf. Bethpage is a very difficult course and the weather delays certainly made things tough. Depending upon which draw you had (morning or afternoon) there were certain advantages and disadvantages due to the weather. Candidly, my draw did not turn out the best.
When you shot a 60 in the third round of the Valero Texas Open, were you aware of how close you were to shooting 59? What was going through your mind?
My routines I have in place are designed to help keep me in the present, so that my focus is always on the current shot. Despite this, it is impossible not to know where you stand when you have it going that good. I know I was close to 59, but I did a real good job of taking one shot at a time.
What area of your game has improved the most over the last few months?
Well, at the PGA Championship where I finished 10th, I was very pleased with my chipping. Chipping has been a focus of my practice this year, and despite tough course conditions at Hazeltine, I managed to get up and down quite a bit.
Why did you choose to attend Drake University? What was the highlight of your college career?
Well, I chose Drake first because it is a great academic school, second because it was fairly close to home and lastly because they were one of the only schools that recruited me. The highlight was probably making nationals as a team.
Which was sweeter, your first-ever Tour win at the 2004 BellSouth, or your Masters win?
Getting that first win is definitely sweet, so winning the BellSouth in '04 was great, but it is hard to compete with winning the Green Jacket. Got to go with winning the Masters.
What is it like playing on the Hooters and Nationwide Tours? Is that a difficult lifestyle?
The lifestyle is different in that it is more nomadic in that you are typically traveling from town to town in your car, and often in groups with other players. The amenities are not anything like the PGA Tour, but the camaraderie on those two tours is great. Playing on those tours, making the friends I did and traveling and playing with those guys has provided me with some of my fondest memories in the game of golf.
What are you top three favorite golf courses and why?
Elmcrest back in Cedar Rapids because it is where I learned to play. Augusta National for obvious reasons and perhaps St. Andrews.
When practicing, how much time do you spend on the range vs. practicing your putting and short game?
It varies depending upon what I am working on, and more importantly what needs work at that present time, but typically I probably spend a little more than 50 percent on the short game and somewhat less on the long game.
You must have an account to post comments. Go ahead and register now. It's completely free and takes 5 seconds.
