Each tournament starts on Thursday, but what does the early part of a typical tournament week look like for you?
“Basically, Monday is the travel day. If I can get to the place early enough I’ll try to get out and play at least nine holes that afternoon but it’s pretty much just a travel and relax day. Tuesday is the practice round day. I’ll definitely do 18 holes on Tuesday and work on my game.”
A practice round is not a typical round of golf. What do you work on during a practice round?
“My caddy and I have these little discs that are the same size as an actual hole. We throw those down on each green and hit a bunch of putts and chips to those spots where the pins will probably be instead of hitting to that pin in the middle of the green, which is kind of pointless. We’ll do that from the fairway too if we think a pin will be tucked in the right corner of a green, we’ll practice that shot in the practice round. We’ll also pick targets off the tees and stick to those.”
Wednesdays are usually set aside for the pro-am tournament?
“I’m a little bit down on the money list so I haven’t got in any this year. I try to hit the range and the putting green and just try to relax and get ready for the next four days.”
Once you’ve prepared yourself, it’s time for the tournament to begin. How does your day start?
“I like to get to the course about an hour early to warm up. On the range, I’m not trying to hit certain shots or anything. I’m just trying to get loose and warm up. It’s the same thing with putting. I’m just trying to get the speed of the greens and practice a lot of three and five-footers.”
Does your warm up session have any effect on the way you play that day?
“It totally doesn’t matter. Some of my best rounds were after I was almost shanking it on the range, then I go out there and light it up. Other days, I’ll be stripin’ it on the range and then I’ve got nothing out on the course! That’s why I go into it with the mentality of just warming up.”
What’s going through your mind when you walk up to the first tee?
“I’m just thinking about that first tee shot really, just picking a target and trying to keep it one shot at a time out there.”
Do you have a game plan for each individual hole?
“Yes. Each shot even, you have to have a bit of a game plan. Your tee shots are pretty much the same plan every day. You’re going to try to hit the same lines but coming into the greens you have to know where the hole is, where the good and bad spots are.”
What are you like on the golf course during a competitive round?
“I’m pretty serious out there. I try to get ‘in the zone’. It’s actually helped and hurt me over the years. I’ve got a caddy with me now, Dale Vallely, who keeps me pretty loose out there and it’s been better for me. He’s got endless jokes and stories while we’re out there. He keeps me laughing. I used to be a little more hot-headed a few years ago and I’m trying to stay more even keel. You just have to be patient out there and eventually something good will happen.”
When you go to the driving range after your round, what do you work on?
“I’ve got a little notepad in my yardage book that I carry around with me on the course. I keep notes of all the things I’ve been working on. After I have a good round, I’ll write down stuff of what I felt that day, how the club felt going back and things like that. I’ll go over my checklist to make sure I’m doing everything on the list.”
What‘s on your list right now?
“Just some basic things. On my setup, I want everything to be square. Extension from the ball. I work on ball position and connection, basically.”
How much time do you spend on the range after your round?
“You never know. You could start hitting it good after 10 balls and say that’s enough or you could be out there for an hour and a half. I’m not a big practiser myself so I’m not usually out there for more than an hour. If I play well, then I don’t go near the range after my round. Why go try to fix something that’s not broken? When I’m struggling, I try to get out there for a little bit and try to get a better mindset for tomorrow instead of leaving it the way it is.”
You have some family here cheering you on this week. What’s it like to play back in your home province after being out on the Nationwide Tour the last couple of years?
“It feels good. It feels a little different. It didn’t feel like home this week, maybe because I haven’t been here in a long time. The weather, the culture, it feels different to me this week. Hopefully it will come around the next few days.”
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