WEBVTT - Part 4: Laird Shepherd, The 2021 Amateur Champion 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:06.080 I've been lucky. I've done not just in Gulf. I've 0:00:06.080 --> 0:00:08.880 been a seven Olympic Games and soccer World Cups and 0:00:08.920 --> 0:00:12.240 all sorts of stuff in my career, all the Ryder Cups, 0:00:12.240 --> 0:00:14.720 all the Open Championships, all the Masters that I was 0:00:14.800 --> 0:00:17.599 lucky enough to attend, great memories. I've been the luckiest 0:00:17.640 --> 0:00:19.680 guy in the world. But I'll tell you what. Up there, 0:00:19.760 --> 0:00:23.320 we're watching Tiger's first winner Augusta and my fellow Scott 0:00:23.360 --> 0:00:26.120 Polori winning the Open at Canoosi and all the others. 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:30.640 The Amateur Championship Final twenty one is absolutely up there 0:00:30.640 --> 0:00:38.080 as all a date. Never to forget. Put another log 0:00:38.159 --> 0:00:50.400 on the fire are here? Give the time? Welcome to 0:00:50.400 --> 0:00:56.920 the fire pit with Matt Janella. Wow again. All of this, 0:00:57.280 --> 0:01:00.520 all of these parts that we put together, goes back 0:01:00.560 --> 0:01:03.200 to a features meeting the week of the U S Open. 0:01:03.960 --> 0:01:06.680 Colt Nedler chimes in with did you guys hear what 0:01:06.720 --> 0:01:11.559 happened at the British Amateur Championship wild? A few days later? 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:14.160 Colt had a day and time in which we'd get 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:18.399 to zoom with Laird Shepherd from St. Andrew's. Shepherd gave 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:20.199 us two and a half hours and we were down 0:01:20.240 --> 0:01:22.639 the rabbit hole of one of the most compelling stories 0:01:22.720 --> 0:01:27.440 I've ever tried to tell. Nine interviews included both competitors, 0:01:27.840 --> 0:01:31.520 their dad's a girlfriend, We heard from two announcers, and 0:01:31.600 --> 0:01:35.440 Tom Bailey, who, over a chance encounter in December, set 0:01:35.480 --> 0:01:39.920 Shepherd on a path to a life altering adventure. If 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:42.120 you're here, I can assume you've listened to all three 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.080 parts of this podcast. Part one is the backstory to 0:01:45.160 --> 0:01:48.840 Laird Shepherd's life engulf which included years of back pain 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:53.880 and some knee surgeries. Chloe Goadby, Laird's girlfriend of three years, 0:01:54.000 --> 0:01:56.720 has been there through the tough times. There's some long 0:01:56.760 --> 0:02:01.200 winters over in Scotland here, so you know, dark nights, 0:02:01.320 --> 0:02:06.000 cold winters, and I think you know, spending days on 0:02:06.120 --> 0:02:09.720 and just we lived together one winter at university and 0:02:10.560 --> 0:02:12.600 just spending days in the flat where he can't go 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:14.920 and play golf because of because of his knee. I 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:17.600 think was probably some of the toughest times for him. 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:20.320 In Part two, Shepherd gets in the Amateur Championship at 0:02:20.400 --> 0:02:24.240 Nairn as thirtieth alternate. We take you through the stroke 0:02:24.280 --> 0:02:27.560 play and the five matches that get Shepherd into the finals. 0:02:27.919 --> 0:02:29.919 I mean, I asked the best probably golf shot I've 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:33.680 ever hit under that that's of pressure. That was pretty cool, 0:02:33.680 --> 0:02:35.919 and I was sort of walking after it and maccady 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:38.400 was having the gird at me because he's like, you 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:40.040 need to calm down, so you need to come back 0:02:40.040 --> 0:02:42.480 to the bag and take a cup of water. And 0:02:42.880 --> 0:02:44.720 he didn't let me take my part out until we 0:02:44.760 --> 0:02:48.320 got to the green. And in part three, it's the 0:02:48.400 --> 0:02:52.440 last eighteen holes of the final, Shepherd starts around seven 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:56.320 down to Montes Scousel, a friend and worthy competitor who 0:02:56.400 --> 0:02:59.120 was playing an extended stretch of the best golf of 0:02:59.160 --> 0:03:01.800 his life. That's exactly right, like all those hours you 0:03:01.800 --> 0:03:04.960 put in and Um, as you know, golf is a 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:06.639 strange game. You can put in all the hours in 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:09.160 the world and you can shoot eight and sometimes you 0:03:09.160 --> 0:03:10.959 don't play for a week and you shoot sixty five. 0:03:11.040 --> 0:03:13.680 It's a strange game. But you just hope that all 0:03:13.720 --> 0:03:16.480 the work you put in willcome good at some point. 0:03:16.600 --> 0:03:19.920 And for me, that's what that week was about. UM 0:03:20.160 --> 0:03:22.160 haven't been too many torments in the past where I 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:25.680 really gone through the whole week feeling like I had 0:03:25.960 --> 0:03:29.040 basically my a game or or somewhere near my a game. 0:03:29.560 --> 0:03:31.720 But but the Amateur was one of those weeks and 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:36.240 I think like that's given me such confidence. But I 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:38.400 can do that over such a long spell of golf 0:03:39.120 --> 0:03:41.280 and you know, on the fitest side of things as well, 0:03:41.280 --> 0:03:44.760 it's thirty six hours a day, um, and that sort 0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:48.360 of under that mental pressure as well. UM, A lot 0:03:48.400 --> 0:03:51.080 of elements that got in got into being able to 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.680 do something like that, you know, during that week. And 0:03:53.720 --> 0:03:56.720 before we get to what we consider Part four, which 0:03:56.760 --> 0:04:01.320 will include further reflections on back pain, bad yardge, clutch putts, 0:04:01.560 --> 0:04:06.000 the incredible comeback and an inspiring display of sportsmanship, we 0:04:06.120 --> 0:04:07.800 just need to thank our friends at link soul for 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:11.560 their support. As you probably know by now, it's all 0:04:11.600 --> 0:04:14.560 I wear on and off the course. If John Ashworth 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:17.120 makes it, I'm in it. And if you want to 0:04:17.160 --> 0:04:19.080 wear some of it as well, go to link soul 0:04:19.160 --> 0:04:23.000 dot com, use promo code fire Pit and enjoy a 0:04:24.160 --> 0:04:28.120 discount on your next purchase. In this podcast, I'll be 0:04:28.160 --> 0:04:31.240 circling back with the cast of characters as they all 0:04:31.279 --> 0:04:34.599 reflect on what transpired at the Amateur Championship at Nairn 0:04:34.640 --> 0:04:38.840 Golf Club. We start with Stewart Shepherd, Laird's father who 0:04:38.880 --> 0:04:41.520 made the trip up and walked all thirty eight holes 0:04:41.560 --> 0:04:45.640 to watch his son become the Amateur champion and one 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:48.039 of the biggest things. Also winning the Amateur's huge. But 0:04:48.240 --> 0:04:51.320 the fact you meant to play nine competitive rounds of 0:04:51.360 --> 0:04:55.680 golf and still be okay um and he's still touchwood 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:59.359 okay uh was you know, almost as much as winning 0:04:59.360 --> 0:05:02.920 the thing. So we're hopeful, But there were some very 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:06.200 dark days. To be fair, just don't think he had 0:05:06.200 --> 0:05:08.320 the structure to play in the game. Again, I keep 0:05:08.320 --> 0:05:10.800 going back to the fact that if Laird Shepherd doesn't 0:05:10.800 --> 0:05:14.840 go home to his grandfather's funeral in December, if he 0:05:14.880 --> 0:05:18.359 doesn't bump into his buddy Tom Bailey, what becomes of 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:22.200 Laird Shepherd the golfer. Here's Tom Bailey. I think, let's 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:25.200 be honest, like that's unbelievable coming back from night down. 0:05:25.200 --> 0:05:27.960 But I think the biggest comeback is him him being 0:05:27.960 --> 0:05:30.880 able to play, yes, get and get into the final. 0:05:30.960 --> 0:05:33.120 But I think that would we would have worked out 0:05:33.120 --> 0:05:35.360 about eleven rounds of both. I think he played that week, 0:05:35.360 --> 0:05:38.800 improving the practice and all the holes he played, and 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:43.080 to play all of that without paying. Unbelievable to win 0:05:43.920 --> 0:05:47.200 mid Virus, to hit your Masters and Open in the US. 0:05:47.240 --> 0:05:50.640 I've been even bigger moments one more time from Shepherd's father, 0:05:50.760 --> 0:05:52.799 who has seen his son play a lot of great golf, 0:05:52.880 --> 0:05:56.200 but nothing quite like the home stretch on Saturday in Scotland. 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:59.960 There was like a man possessed for the last nine 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:03.480 nine holes. I mean he holds everything. They had. Look 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:05.920 on his face, he never thought he was gonna miss 0:06:06.960 --> 0:06:09.400 when he needed a shot. A chip he hit at 0:06:09.560 --> 0:06:14.640 the half four year to win the fifteenth that was 0:06:14.880 --> 0:06:21.359 down slope up to the green. Um just incredibly good shot. 0:06:23.240 --> 0:06:25.960 I thought, wow, I mean he's he's definitely on it. 0:06:26.080 --> 0:06:30.880 And the shot into seventeen three or four ft whatever 0:06:30.960 --> 0:06:34.080 it was, that that was phenomenal. He just was on rails, 0:06:34.120 --> 0:06:38.159 so he just yeah, it was just incredible to see. 0:06:38.520 --> 0:06:42.120 Andrew Davidson is Laird's friend from University of Sterling who 0:06:42.160 --> 0:06:44.120 lost in the first round of match play and then 0:06:44.200 --> 0:06:47.680 stayed to caddy for Shephard. I asked Davidson what he 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:51.520 takes away from such a special week and ochre golf. 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:54.880 He's achieved quite a lot, but he never really wanted 0:06:54.880 --> 0:06:59.400 anything and he's seen a few like me and another 0:06:59.480 --> 0:07:03.520 friend of ours pretty close to them when something like 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:07.159 a few years ago, and that probably gave hun belief 0:07:07.200 --> 0:07:10.840 as well that it was possible. But winning the Amateur 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:14.640 Championship compared to winning any of these other tournaments, which 0:07:15.000 --> 0:07:20.679 realistically aren't much different and in strength, but the winning 0:07:20.680 --> 0:07:24.840 the Amateur Championships so much bigger than winning anything else. 0:07:25.200 --> 0:07:27.640 And I suppose what I take from it's just that 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:31.960 you just got to keep believing in and literally just 0:07:31.960 --> 0:07:36.679 just keep going because you never know what can happen, 0:07:36.680 --> 0:07:39.480 and walks around the corner. Gold is crazy game you 0:07:39.520 --> 0:07:43.960 can't win often take golf, but you just gotta keep 0:07:44.000 --> 0:07:48.160 believing that as possible and and just keep trying. Like 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:51.080 that's literally what me and Lard kept saying is just 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:54.280 keep giving it your own and if you as long 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:56.840 as you do that, then what does that matter what 0:07:56.880 --> 0:07:59.800 happens at the end, Just like you might as well, 0:08:00.200 --> 0:08:02.360 you just gotta keep trying to trying to try, and 0:08:02.360 --> 0:08:06.440 and it's nice was it's just belief. This main thing 0:08:06.480 --> 0:08:08.960 I te tape from it. I think did you hear 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:12.360 about Andrew giving Laird the wrong yardage on the first playoff? 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:15.520 Hold purposely because he thought he didn't want Laird to 0:08:15.600 --> 0:08:20.840 gas it over the green. I didn't heard that one. Well, 0:08:21.440 --> 0:08:26.480 if that's so, he's definitely earned his non fee. I 0:08:26.560 --> 0:08:29.720 asked Chloe Goby, Laird's girlfriend in recent winner of the 0:08:29.760 --> 0:08:34.840 Women's Scottish Amateur, about Andrew purposely giving Laird bad yardage 0:08:34.880 --> 0:08:37.680 on the first playoff hole. Andrew told me this, I 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:39.480 can't remember whether it was on our way back to 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:44.800 the clubhouse after lairded one or whether Yeah, I can't 0:08:44.840 --> 0:08:46.439 remember when it was, but it was definitely before I 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:51.440 lared kW about it, and and he says today, yeah, 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:53.600 I told him that it was only seven to one 0:08:53.720 --> 0:08:57.160 when it was actually sev And I'm like what, And 0:08:57.200 --> 0:09:00.720 he said, well, I just knew he'd been a adrenaline 0:09:00.720 --> 0:09:02.640 going and you just can't go along with that pen. 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:05.679 And I thought, yeah, that's a smart, smart Caddy move, 0:09:05.800 --> 0:09:08.640 but potentially I could get you in trouble that one. 0:09:08.800 --> 0:09:12.320 But yeah, that's hilarious. I couldn't believe you did that. 0:09:12.360 --> 0:09:14.960 And I just found it so funny. And when did 0:09:15.040 --> 0:09:18.120 you tell him? You told him to run after I 0:09:18.240 --> 0:09:21.120 told him. I would never have told him ever if 0:09:21.120 --> 0:09:23.880 he if he had lost. He would never have known. 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:29.040 But I could have taken that to your grave. Oh yeah, 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:32.480 I would have felt so bad. But at the time 0:09:32.559 --> 0:09:35.679 it was definitely the right thing to do, because you're 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:37.680 just piling the pressure another guy because you know that 0:09:37.720 --> 0:09:40.080 he lays probably not going to make boggy from there. 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:44.199 So it's crazy. You couldn't think of a better man 0:09:44.280 --> 0:09:46.880 to have on your bag, um, and some of like that, 0:09:46.920 --> 0:09:50.560 because he's so down to earth. He's a fantastic lad 0:09:50.720 --> 0:09:55.400 and yeah he's Um. He did a great job. And 0:09:55.440 --> 0:09:57.680 I mean he did a great job a week because 0:09:57.679 --> 0:10:00.800 obviously he lost in the sixt Us round and then 0:10:00.960 --> 0:10:04.320 took over the bag and every every time I spoke 0:10:04.360 --> 0:10:08.040 to lead and it's still there, isn't me. He's going 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:11.079 to be there on Saturday, isn't me. You won't be 0:10:11.120 --> 0:10:14.720 doing this on your own. So yeah, now he's brilliant. 0:10:15.040 --> 0:10:17.640 Unfortunately I can't carry it the open I'm getting married 0:10:17.880 --> 0:10:25.960 the day after got it, so he so I can't 0:10:26.000 --> 0:10:31.199 carry it though, devastated because in the way COVID is 0:10:31.280 --> 0:10:34.960 up here, we can't. I can't rest going down and 0:10:35.000 --> 0:10:38.959 getting tracked and traced or whatever. Ka, So I've had 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:41.199 to pass the boots over to someone else for that, 0:10:42.559 --> 0:10:47.400 but I'll be back in the game at the Masters. Really, 0:10:47.440 --> 0:10:51.000 is that what's gonna happen? Yeah, I told him that 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:54.040 I was in the small print the night before, but 0:10:54.120 --> 0:10:57.200 the night before the finals, like you went back, will 0:10:57.240 --> 0:11:02.400 be cardying there. It's However, Laird Shepherd's caddy at the 0:11:02.400 --> 0:11:06.280 Open Championship is James Wilson, another college teammate from the 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:11.000 University of Sterling. The plan is on Sunday, assuming Shepherd 0:11:11.000 --> 0:11:15.160 makes the cut, Laird Chloe and James Wilson, we'll all 0:11:15.200 --> 0:11:17.640 pile in a car and race off to Andrew's wedding. 0:11:18.720 --> 0:11:22.520 As for Mr Shepherd, he's still processing the benefits of 0:11:22.679 --> 0:11:26.360 Laird winning the Amateur Championship. It's a gift that keeps 0:11:26.400 --> 0:11:30.199 giving giving. And I've always wanted to go to Augusta. 0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:32.920 I just just I mean, we were there a few 0:11:33.000 --> 0:11:37.240 years ago at a King because he went to look 0:11:37.240 --> 0:11:39.000 at a couple of universities again the States, and we 0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:41.719 went to a King was only half a half an 0:11:41.720 --> 0:11:44.160 hour from Augusta, and I thought just looked the gates 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:46.080 that we didn't in the end thought was a bit 0:11:46.080 --> 0:11:49.000 pointless and frustrating. But you know, I've always I'd love 0:11:49.040 --> 0:11:50.880 to just go and see it. I'd love to have 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:52.840 gone to go to the Masters. But the thought of 0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:55.440 going to the Masters and watching your son play God 0:11:55.440 --> 0:11:58.440 winning it happens is just if that's that's probably the 0:11:58.440 --> 0:12:01.679 most the most thing to come to terms. But I mean, 0:12:01.800 --> 0:12:06.240 next week playing the Open is pretty special because Saint 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:09.360 George's is the nearest open venue to where we live, 0:12:09.400 --> 0:12:12.600 and we both played there quite a lot. But yeah, 0:12:12.720 --> 0:12:16.440 that the thought of going to the Masters is just extraordinary. 0:12:16.559 --> 0:12:18.840 If you've listened to all three parts of this podcast, 0:12:18.880 --> 0:12:21.480 I'm guessing you can't help but root for money scoutle 0:12:21.600 --> 0:12:24.640 to continue doing great things in life. Hang off. I mean, 0:12:24.960 --> 0:12:28.240 you know obviously, um, you know, I really wanted my 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:33.200 name on that trophy, and um, it's yeah, it's hard. 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:35.240 It's harder the last the last couple of weeks, certainly 0:12:35.240 --> 0:12:37.640 the two days after it was really really tough. You know, um, 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:40.520 quite a few tears and it's just a bit of 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:44.080 a bit of gentle sobbing. But but actually I woke 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:46.280 up on the Tuesday morning and I thought, hey, if 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:49.000 someone had offered me second place on the Monday morning, 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:50.760 is I was stepping on that first team heading into 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:55.520 an absolute hurricane, I probably would have taken it. And 0:12:55.520 --> 0:12:58.880 and certainly for for my career going forward, you know, 0:12:59.080 --> 0:13:01.560 this will hopefully open a few doors for me, but 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:05.520 also just the confidence it's given me that I can, um, 0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:08.800 I can really push forward in is this. This's been 0:13:08.880 --> 0:13:10.880 my career and it's something I've always sort of battled 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:14.400 with myself. You know, are you good enough? Um? Do 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:16.360 you want it hard enough? And and this is this 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:18.520 is a firm all of those sort of doubts to 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:21.400 me that yeah I do. Um, and this is gonna 0:13:21.520 --> 0:13:23.560 this is gonna make me and not break me. Um. 0:13:24.320 --> 0:13:26.280 And like you said, you know, the runners up list 0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:29.000 of guys who have gone on has been pretty impressive. 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:31.640 So if I can you know, following their footsteps in 0:13:31.679 --> 0:13:34.400 any any sense, then I'll hopefully have a great career. 0:13:34.480 --> 0:13:39.200 So um, overall, I mean, it was such a brilliant 0:13:39.200 --> 0:13:41.760 week and you know, I'm delighted for Lead. It couldn't 0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.520 have happened to a better guy, really couldn't. And all 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:48.080 the opportunities coming his way. UM, Yeah, I just hope 0:13:48.080 --> 0:13:51.040 he brings me something back from AUGUSTA, maybe maybe like 0:13:51.200 --> 0:13:53.319 a flag or something. I don't know. I saw that 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:55.640 with him. I'm sure you will. They see, apples don't 0:13:55.640 --> 0:13:58.800 fall very far from the tree. Well, when money Scousle 0:13:58.840 --> 0:14:01.160 told me his father is his favorite person to play 0:14:01.160 --> 0:14:04.640 golf with, I lost it. I guess that's because I'm 0:14:04.679 --> 0:14:08.880 a fairly new dad and that's every golfing father's dream. 0:14:08.920 --> 0:14:14.880 Are you more proud of how he played in terms 0:14:14.960 --> 0:14:17.520 of his golf or are you more proud and how 0:14:17.600 --> 0:14:21.640 he conducted himself as a sportsman and a class act 0:14:22.000 --> 0:14:27.280 when it was all said and done. Um, I think 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:31.680 probably the latter. I think probably because that that was 0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:34.040 the biggest test of all. I think he golf is 0:14:34.040 --> 0:14:36.600 something that he'll he'll go back and he'll he'll play 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:40.120 lots more golf and he'll hopefully get better and better. 0:14:41.280 --> 0:14:43.600 But I think on on the biggest day of his 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:47.200 golfing life, I think it was he showed a lot 0:14:47.240 --> 0:14:50.880 of He made a lot of friends that day in 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:55.280 terms of everyone who was there watched it. Um, I 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:58.080 think amongst it was difficult amongst all all the friends 0:14:58.080 --> 0:15:00.440 back home we were watching it. U You know, so 0:15:00.640 --> 0:15:05.120 several have written to us, and indeed, you know we've 0:15:05.200 --> 0:15:08.960 had He's had some lovely notes from very senior people 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:11.040 within the R and A have written to to say 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:15.640 how impressed they were the way he handled himself, both 0:15:15.680 --> 0:15:18.880 on and offer and off the course. And I'm not 0:15:18.920 --> 0:15:21.080 sure he probably won't have told you because we just 0:15:22.040 --> 0:15:25.680 received an email today from men who have asked him 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:30.240 to become an honorary member, which is which is a 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:34.840 very very special thing to have happened. Um, And so 0:15:34.880 --> 0:15:36.960 I think I think of anything, I think, I can't 0:15:37.000 --> 0:15:39.880 help but think that there's nothing you could be more 0:15:39.880 --> 0:15:43.280 proud about than have something as fabulous as that. Needless 0:15:43.280 --> 0:15:47.120 to say, being impressed by young Scoutle's sportsmanship was unanimous. 0:15:47.400 --> 0:15:51.080 For a Monted be able to in the moment put 0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:54.640 everything else aside and act like that, I mean that 0:15:54.720 --> 0:15:57.440 just shows so much more about his character than anython 0:15:57.480 --> 0:16:02.760 will And I mean it couldn't have been better handled 0:16:02.920 --> 0:16:06.240 in that situation. Do you think you can't even imagine 0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:10.000 how you deal with that and you know the raw motion, 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:13.880 how do you, you know, put that aside and actually 0:16:14.520 --> 0:16:19.800 be a sportsman and show respectful loud. I mean it 0:16:19.920 --> 0:16:22.800 was pretty incredible. And you know, Monty is a great guy, 0:16:22.800 --> 0:16:25.160 and you know he's come through a lot as well, 0:16:25.200 --> 0:16:28.200 and he's really progressed in the last few years. Having 0:16:28.200 --> 0:16:30.720 seen him play years ago, and you know, I think 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:32.680 obviously you know what it would have meant to him 0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:34.640 as well. It would have been life changing for either 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:37.560 of them. Yeah, I think for him to be that 0:16:37.600 --> 0:16:40.080 way was really special too, Loud and I think it 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:42.720 meant a lot to him as well. So thanks again 0:16:42.720 --> 0:16:46.080 to George Harper Jr. Dog Danally and the entire broadcast 0:16:46.080 --> 0:16:48.680 team who called the live stream for the RNA. And 0:16:49.080 --> 0:16:52.560 wasn't the reaction of the two guys, Matt absolutely wonderful 0:16:53.200 --> 0:16:55.640 As you said that that they know each other, the buddies, 0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:58.920 the room together, all of that, but still there is 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:01.480 one who feels like the bottom has dropped out of 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:04.280 his world. The other gay just can't believe he have 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:07.880 won the British Sanita Championship. But there was a genuinely 0:17:08.000 --> 0:17:11.159 warm hug between them, wasn't there, And that they all 0:17:11.200 --> 0:17:14.280 stayed buddies. Of course they will um, but I just 0:17:14.280 --> 0:17:17.360 thought of it summed up this this wonderful game, that 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:22.600 there is always that that empathy between the contestants, isn't there. 0:17:23.160 --> 0:17:25.560 I asked both dads to talk about the other son. 0:17:26.440 --> 0:17:29.399 This is Stewart Shepherd on Monty Scousel. I think the 0:17:29.440 --> 0:17:32.879 pressure was having an effect, but you're right he didn't 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:34.840 give it away. I mean the parts the hold at 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:39.120 sixteen and seventeen to make leadhole, his parts at sixteen 0:17:39.119 --> 0:17:44.040 and seventeen were just heroic in the circumstances. He definitely 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:46.560 didn't give it away. I mean, you know, I don't 0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:49.000 know what his score was, three or four over the afternoon, 0:17:49.520 --> 0:17:52.199 so you know it's not like he shot eighty something. Um. 0:17:52.320 --> 0:17:54.560 I mean, you've seen people in that sort of position 0:17:54.600 --> 0:17:58.240 actually melt I'm not going to name names, but you 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:01.400 know there's been people and that's the tuation who just 0:18:01.560 --> 0:18:04.359 cannot being able to cope with a pressure. But no, Monty, 0:18:04.560 --> 0:18:07.520 I don't think it was Monty. I'm sure it had 0:18:07.680 --> 0:18:09.680 had a little bit of an effect, but it wasn't 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:13.760 a meltdown by anything. Here was Jeremy Scousel on Laird Shepherd. 0:18:14.119 --> 0:18:16.200 It was it was tough because he had to hold 0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:18.800 a couple of good eight ten foot cuts the hold, 0:18:18.960 --> 0:18:21.880 which had he missed one of them would have would 0:18:21.920 --> 0:18:26.240 have ended up in a him losing. So it was 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:29.080 it was tremendous and I dropped the note afterwards and 0:18:29.119 --> 0:18:32.680 said that was you know, that was really courageous and fantastic, 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:37.080 fantastic comeback, and it was I mean he was really 0:18:38.000 --> 0:18:41.359 he was playing. They're probably both playing good golf, but 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:44.440 Laird was playing exceptional golf under that sort of pressure, 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:46.159 because there must have been a stage, and I know 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:48.840 he went out after lunch thinking, well, I've got no 0:18:48.880 --> 0:18:52.080 need to lose here. Um, I just wanted to make 0:18:52.080 --> 0:18:55.360 sure that I'm not embarrassed. But there would have come 0:18:55.400 --> 0:18:57.160 a stage in his own mind, and I'm sure he's 0:18:57.200 --> 0:19:00.000 explained that to you. Probably that he would have thought, 0:19:00.359 --> 0:19:05.359 actually I remember the chance here, um, and in the 0:19:05.440 --> 0:19:08.440 once he hit that frame frame mind to continue playing. 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:10.840 The quality of golf golf that he did was was 0:19:10.840 --> 0:19:16.200 pretty exceptional. They were both very impressive. Yeah, and yeah, 0:19:15.960 --> 0:19:20.760 the sportsmanship, the speed they played, um great, great that 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:23.680 I thought. And obviously they produced a bit of excitement 0:19:23.680 --> 0:19:28.200 as well. So a good stress, stressful ift you closely involved, 0:19:28.200 --> 0:19:33.080 but happy, happy ending. And of course some reflections from 0:19:33.119 --> 0:19:40.040 the reigning amateur champion Laird Shepherd. Have you watched it all, um? 0:19:40.080 --> 0:19:43.879 I watched almost all that. I actually haven't watched the 0:19:43.960 --> 0:19:49.439 last the last six or seven holes. But I watched 0:19:49.440 --> 0:19:51.840 the first the first eight team, and that wasn't great 0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:58.600 watching still still thinking how fine, but winning an um, Yeah, 0:19:58.840 --> 0:20:00.800 that would be nice to be able to going and 0:20:00.840 --> 0:20:04.040 look back and anytime you're struggling with the game or 0:20:04.160 --> 0:20:07.480 feeling a bit low, you can go back and and 0:20:07.600 --> 0:20:11.600 see yourself performing under the greatest pressure. And I think 0:20:11.640 --> 0:20:13.920 that's what sports all about in the end, as those 0:20:13.960 --> 0:20:18.679 pressure moments, they pressure builds, builds diamonds. It molds, molds 0:20:18.760 --> 0:20:23.760 you into who you are. And yeah, just just thankful 0:20:23.800 --> 0:20:27.240 that I end up going going my way that day's lard. 0:20:27.280 --> 0:20:30.719 If you had reconnected with money since the amateur, I 0:20:30.760 --> 0:20:32.959 said to him, you know, I'm looking forward to hopefully 0:20:33.040 --> 0:20:36.720 playing with you and some some England teams if if 0:20:36.720 --> 0:20:40.119 we both get picked, which hopefully we do, and you know, 0:20:40.400 --> 0:20:43.960 I'd love to play four sums with you. And yeah, 0:20:44.160 --> 0:20:48.440 just I mean, I'm a person who doesn't I don't 0:20:48.480 --> 0:20:51.080 have a big, sort of wide group of friends or 0:20:51.160 --> 0:20:56.280 a white of social social group. I'm relatively introverted and 0:20:56.800 --> 0:20:59.439 I find a lot of people annoying. I have no 0:20:59.560 --> 0:21:03.320 problems to him that, especially in golf, and there's there's 0:21:03.520 --> 0:21:06.199 you know, I don't. I don't find a lot of 0:21:06.200 --> 0:21:08.200 people I can spend a lot of time with them 0:21:08.280 --> 0:21:11.399 and not get annoyed by them. But Monty is certainly 0:21:11.400 --> 0:21:15.400 one of the good guys. For me, that's more important 0:21:15.440 --> 0:21:19.120 than anything. So we had a phone call, um must 0:21:19.119 --> 0:21:22.120 have been last week at some point end of last week, 0:21:23.200 --> 0:21:26.000 and just just sharing our stories on how weeks have been. 0:21:26.040 --> 0:21:28.520 And I think the thing we both said to each 0:21:28.520 --> 0:21:31.760 other's dude, you as knackid as I am. I mean, 0:21:32.160 --> 0:21:33.720 I don't think either of us got out of bed 0:21:33.760 --> 0:21:36.919 for four or five days. We were just shattered the 0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:40.680 emotional like how draining it was emotionally and obviously physically 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:43.399 on our bodies. So yeah, it was really nice to 0:21:43.480 --> 0:21:46.240 chat to him, and you know, he was doing well 0:21:46.280 --> 0:21:48.840 and he's sort of obviously getting prepped now for the 0:21:48.880 --> 0:21:53.399 open and and those opportunities coming his way. So yeah, 0:21:54.040 --> 0:21:57.080 it was really nice to chat. And actually too, we 0:21:57.280 --> 0:21:58.920 kind of said to each other, you know, regardless of 0:21:58.960 --> 0:22:02.280 the result, to share that day together, Um, it's certainly 0:22:02.320 --> 0:22:06.280 something that will be in mine and and his memory 0:22:06.280 --> 0:22:08.480 bank for the rest of our lives. And actually the 0:22:08.480 --> 0:22:10.440 fact both our families were there as well was super 0:22:10.440 --> 0:22:13.880 special and um, it's not something that actually many people 0:22:13.880 --> 0:22:16.399 get to experience something of that magnitude, and we were 0:22:16.440 --> 0:22:19.399 just very grateful to have shared it together and certainly 0:22:19.400 --> 0:22:21.440 it will it will bond us for life. I guess 0:22:21.480 --> 0:22:24.520 it's as good friends. Yes, it's pretty crazy, man, I've 0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:29.760 said obviously to my dad. Actually the evening after one 0:22:29.880 --> 0:22:33.000 I said, if I never do anything else in golf, 0:22:33.040 --> 0:22:35.679 that was that will do. That's pretty cool, isn't it. 0:22:35.760 --> 0:22:40.240 And I say that probably less of that mindset now, 0:22:40.280 --> 0:22:44.440 because you know, it's always I'm I am who I am, 0:22:44.480 --> 0:22:47.359 and it's the next challenge and looking forward to the 0:22:47.400 --> 0:22:51.359