Does a golfer need to play the game “true to himself”?
Absolutely, I mean you have to be yourself. I think if you are being honest and being yourself and excited to play golf then your character will come out.
I believe the player does need to be true to himself and true to the game for his character to actually come through. Whether it’s playing a shot, winning or whether it’s coming down the back nine, he does have to be to be himself to show his true character.
Does a golfer only show his true character in moments of high pressure?
Sure, I think under pressure, in certain situations, you really do get to see people’s personalities and people’s characters. And I think that’s fun to see people under that pressure and who they really are.
Of the players that you admire, what is it about their personality that has made their mark on you?
As I said, you find out a lot about people’s character when they are under pressure. When you think of the great moments involving the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Seve [Ballesteros], [Nick] Faldo or Payne Stewart – so many players that you’ve seen win big tournaments – they’ve been able to deal with certain situations on the back nine to be able to win those majors.
Who in golf did you look up to when first starting the game?
Every time I’ve stepped on the golf course and played with someone that I’ve always looked up to and watched play golf is a special moment. From watching a player, fast forward the clock, and all of a sudden I’m standing on the first tee with Seve – it’s kind of an eerie moment I guess, watching somebody that you admire for so long and then you’re out there playing golf with them.
For me every shot he [Seve] hit was a memory. It’s not just one shot; I think it’s every shot.
