Many years ago, in the throes of my struggles on the PGA Tour, I had difficulty even getting into pro-ams. I needed money, so I put together a 45-minute magic show I'd perform at corporate events surrounding the tournament.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
If you could just turn pro and go immediately to the PGA Tour, that would be one thing. But that's not how it works. And that's not the lifestyle I want.
Time management is probably the biggest thing I've had to learn to deal with being on the PGA Tour, whether it be media or figuring out how many weeks to play in a row. That's been the biggest adjustment, coming from amateur and college golf.
Some people thought I'd be on the PGA Tour, that I'd win tournaments, play in majors, contend in majors, win majors. I thought they were crazy.
The best part about winning the PGA is getting great pairings at tour events. It's fun to play with Phil Mickelson and other past major champions.
When I got onto PGA Tour Canada right out of college, I was competitive more quickly than when I got onto the PGA Tour, but that just shows you how much work and effort it takes to get to the world stage. The best players in the world are the best at dealing with those emotions.
Obviously, signing on with Puma right when I turned pro, it's been a great fit for me to show off my colorful lifestyle as far as where I grew up and how I grew up, growing up on a public driving range and growing up around action sports my whole life. Not exactly the normal road that guys take to get to the PGA Tour.
I had always wanted to see the world, and the PGA Tour was always going to be there.
I thought I would just become a pro at a golf course.
The first time I played a PGA Tour event at Tucson was 1975. I came off the course on Sunday feeling very good about myself. I'd finished at even par, and I knew I could play even better if I worked at it.
I felt I could play in maybe a dozen tournaments a year as an amateur.