WEBVTT - Fire Drill 074: The Comeback Kid - Catching Up w/ a British Amateur Champion 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:04.880 That's why golf such a funny game. You know, I 0:00:04.960 --> 0:00:11.119 worked really hard for six months to get worse. Um, like, 0:00:11.240 --> 0:00:17.239 it's quite funny. I got thoughts in my head. Can't 0:00:17.280 --> 0:00:23.279 get them Joan. Nothing what I'm thinking about that in 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:28.040 my head, can't get them out, jo not think what 0:00:28.200 --> 0:00:38.440 I'm thinking about. Hello, this is Alan Ship knocking back 0:00:38.440 --> 0:00:41.000 from their Fire Drill podcast. This is a special one. 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:43.479 It's like going to accompany a new episode of the 0:00:43.560 --> 0:00:47.680 grind Our docuseries that kind of takes you the viewer 0:00:47.760 --> 0:00:51.960 slash listener, kind of deep into the world of professional 0:00:52.000 --> 0:00:55.600 golf and those who aspire to get there and um. 0:00:56.560 --> 0:00:59.400 This this episode that we're dropping here Masters Week follows 0:00:59.480 --> 0:01:03.880 Laird Sheppard. He was the British Amateur champ by way 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:06.679 of an epic come back. He fought his way to 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:09.960 the Masters in two thousand and twenty two and we 0:01:10.120 --> 0:01:13.640 were our cameras were there through for everything in Scotland. 0:01:14.840 --> 0:01:18.920 We've got some great stuff from from his whole journey 0:01:18.959 --> 0:01:21.240 and of course we were with him in AUGUSTA. So 0:01:22.040 --> 0:01:23.720 we're just going to talk about kind of bring things 0:01:23.800 --> 0:01:26.160 up to date, uh, match Nell and I and then 0:01:26.400 --> 0:01:28.720 we'll have lair to jump on and and and talk 0:01:28.800 --> 0:01:30.600 through with this. Last year has been like and reminisce 0:01:30.640 --> 0:01:33.240 about the Masters. And but let me throw it over 0:01:33.280 --> 0:01:35.080 to Matt before we get too deep into this. He 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:38.080 wants to thank some of the people who make this possible. Matt, 0:01:38.080 --> 0:01:41.520 the floor is yours. Thanks all new sponsor this week 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:44.400 for all things that we're doing out of out of 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:48.240 Augusta and the Masters. And that's Robin Golf. 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You know, he struggles with the 0:02:58.480 --> 0:03:01.480 Masters and that's how the episode ends, and the podcast 0:03:01.560 --> 0:03:06.079 here will bring folks up to date on everything that's 0:03:06.080 --> 0:03:08.560 followed in the last year. You give us a little teaser, Matt, 0:03:08.600 --> 0:03:10.679 because you went deep in Layer and you followed the 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:15.440 story all the way through. Well, I, Laird is amazing. 0:03:15.480 --> 0:03:21.959 He's had several comebacks physically, spiritually, you know, mechanically from 0:03:21.960 --> 0:03:25.680 a golfing standpoint, obviously as you mentioned, coming back nine down, 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:31.840 eight down with nineteen holes to play in the in 0:03:31.919 --> 0:03:36.640 the British Amateur and uh as you will see in 0:03:36.680 --> 0:03:40.360 this episode. And no, we did a multipart podcast on 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:44.320 Laard Shepherd a year and a half ago celebrating this 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:47.240 incredible comeback. So this is a guy, you know, we 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:49.600 talked about the grind and you know, we met up 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:53.040 with the multiple times in Scotland. We went out and 0:03:53.160 --> 0:03:56.280 hit balls with him at Duke's in you know, snow 0:03:56.280 --> 0:03:59.240 covered driving range. He was the only one on the 0:03:59.320 --> 0:04:04.560 range had to be you know, thirty degrees and he's 0:04:04.600 --> 0:04:07.520 having to pick his own balls up off the driving range. 0:04:08.800 --> 0:04:12.360 You know, he's physically trying to get stronger. He's preparing 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:14.840 for the Masters and these opportunities he got after he 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:20.360 wins the British Amateur and he's just a very compelling character. 0:04:20.920 --> 0:04:26.280 He's very intense and very committed to his craft and 0:04:26.600 --> 0:04:30.760 for Laird, it's almost and we talk about it on 0:04:30.760 --> 0:04:34.320 this podcast. For him to get to a place where 0:04:34.320 --> 0:04:38.840 he actually lets go is when he becomes dangerous. So 0:04:38.960 --> 0:04:43.640 getting down eight with nineteen to play is when he 0:04:43.720 --> 0:04:46.919 started playing his best golf going into the Masters, and 0:04:46.960 --> 0:04:49.400 he talks about all the distraction and the pressures and 0:04:49.800 --> 0:04:53.159 sort of the claustrophobia of the of the patrons, and 0:04:54.400 --> 0:04:59.800 you know that he's his biggest challenge is his own mind. 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:03.440 And he really has been always very open and honest 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:07.400 and very thoughtful for up to us. As he talks 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:09.840 about this struggle and people in his inner circle, his 0:05:10.200 --> 0:05:13.040 girlfriend and his friend and caddy at the British Ampshire 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:16.400 talk about it. He just has to find this balance 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:21.800 between working towards getting better and backing away and freeing 0:05:21.880 --> 0:05:24.960 himself up to play better. It's you know what I mean, 0:05:25.040 --> 0:05:27.200 It's there's that fine line and you think about it. 0:05:27.279 --> 0:05:30.080 We talked about Jordan Spieth, when is he the most 0:05:30.120 --> 0:05:33.279 dangerous when he was young and had no you know, no, 0:05:33.839 --> 0:05:36.880 he had no inhibitions, free of all the kind of 0:05:36.880 --> 0:05:40.599 the mental craziness. Rory, he was the best when he 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:44.200 was just a kid playing golf. Tigers always had that 0:05:44.240 --> 0:05:47.039 ability to sort of play the game. He's playing the game. 0:05:47.120 --> 0:05:51.479 You know, I think Laird is going to have a 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:53.839 really good career as soon as he's able to sort 0:05:53.839 --> 0:05:57.200 of turn it off. Yeah. That that mental challenge is 0:05:57.240 --> 0:06:00.240 so fascinating, and it really comes through in the sort 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:04.679 of the grind where, um, it's having watched a few times, 0:06:04.680 --> 0:06:06.880 you know, he's We follow him early in Master's Week 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:09.320 and he's just so a bulliant and he's just so 0:06:09.400 --> 0:06:12.320 happy to be there, and and then and we interview 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:14.839 him after he's missed the cut and he's just you know, 0:06:14.880 --> 0:06:18.520 his eyes are watery and he's he's just so crushed, 0:06:18.680 --> 0:06:23.280 and you can't have a more perfect distillation of how 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:26.800 brutal tournament golf is. And I mean, Bobby Jones is 0:06:26.800 --> 0:06:28.400 what chased him out of the game at twenty eight, 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:30.640 you know, after won the Grand Slam, was the Houston 0:06:30.720 --> 0:06:32.880 drink two inches of corn liquor after every round. He 0:06:32.960 --> 0:06:35.040 was just it just took such a toll on him. 0:06:35.040 --> 0:06:38.440 And so um, that's what I love about about this show, 0:06:38.520 --> 0:06:42.760 that is we have that intimacy and you've been and 0:06:42.800 --> 0:06:45.120 we we we capture those tough moments as well as 0:06:45.120 --> 0:06:46.960 the moments of triumph. They're both there, they're both in 0:06:46.960 --> 0:06:49.360 this this one episode, and I think that's why it's 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:53.280 so compelling. You also find out that Laird tried to 0:06:53.360 --> 0:06:57.240 change his change his swing going into the Masters because 0:06:57.279 --> 0:06:59.000 he knew he needed to hit a little higher and 0:06:59.080 --> 0:07:02.280 hit them, hit that d all and under pressure, it 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:05.520 didn't it didn't hold up. And he was, you know, 0:07:05.560 --> 0:07:09.039 going to the US Open at the country Club and 0:07:09.120 --> 0:07:12.000 sort of under the same kind of set of pressures 0:07:12.920 --> 0:07:15.400 and it wasn't working. And he gets to that Wednesday 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:18.560 before the for the US Open and when he finally 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:22.760 decides that's it, I'm going back to my going back 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.400 to what got me here, and it finally clicks and 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:27.320 he misses the cut at the US Open. But you know, 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:31.040 he talks through that whole process too, and in his 0:07:31.080 --> 0:07:34.600 mind he's still trying to get back to that swinging 0:07:34.720 --> 0:07:37.600 game he had got him to win at the British Amperature, 0:07:37.640 --> 0:07:41.120 and that that's just again goes back to sort of 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:45.840 this inherent need for these guys to continue to always 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:49.200 be tweaking and tinkering and trying to hit a higher 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:53.880 or laugh versus right or what. You know. It just fascinating. 0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:56.880 It's just fascinating to me. And Laird is a is 0:07:56.920 --> 0:07:59.760 a real deep thinker and very he's a very intellectual 0:08:00.840 --> 0:08:04.800 and and I just think as soon as he's able 0:08:04.840 --> 0:08:08.960 to do that work on the range and stop doing 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:12.360 work on the course, and if he's if he's able 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:15.440 to sort of let it go, he's very dangerous with 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:17.440 the putter when he gets hot, and I think he's 0:08:17.440 --> 0:08:19.160 got a great career ahead of him. I look forward 0:08:19.160 --> 0:08:21.960 to seeing where it goes for him. It's amazing how 0:08:21.960 --> 0:08:24.920 many players have fallen into that trap. And it takes 0:08:24.960 --> 0:08:28.680 like a real confidence and sort of strength. Of course, 0:08:28.880 --> 0:08:31.080 you always want to get better. I mean to quote Tiger, 0:08:31.080 --> 0:08:33.640 if you're not getting better or getting worse, so that 0:08:33.640 --> 0:08:36.160 that that quest for improvement. But the flip side is 0:08:36.160 --> 0:08:37.720 you have to know who you are as a golfer 0:08:38.120 --> 0:08:39.520 and you can stay on the range and say, oh, 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:41.840 I want to swing it like Adam Scott or I 0:08:41.880 --> 0:08:43.920 want to You know, it's very easy to just start 0:08:44.000 --> 0:08:47.600 chasing someone or something that that's not really who you are, 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:50.280 as it's in your in your competitive DNA. And so 0:08:50.960 --> 0:08:52.880 that's a tough lesson for Laird, but it's better to 0:08:52.920 --> 0:08:55.640 learn it at you know, twenty three than thirty three 0:08:55.720 --> 0:08:58.760 and even forty three. I mean, that's what happened, whether 0:08:58.800 --> 0:09:01.200 it's Ian Baker, Finch or David Duval. I mean guys 0:09:01.240 --> 0:09:05.199 have gone. Happened to Savy biosteros like players have lost 0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:09.359 their natural gift could chase in something and so um, 0:09:09.400 --> 0:09:12.960 if it made it made last last year's master is tough. 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:14.760 But if that was the less then if he can 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:17.000 stay true to himself and he can play to his 0:09:17.000 --> 0:09:19.680 own strength, and it was worth it, So it'll be 0:09:19.720 --> 0:09:22.439 fun to follow him on this journey. But um, maybe 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:24.400 we should let Laird speak for himself. I mean, you 0:09:24.440 --> 0:09:26.959 did a great conversation with him, and I think listeners 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:28.520 want to hear it from Laird. So I'm going to 0:09:28.520 --> 0:09:31.240 step aside and let you guys get to get to 0:09:31.360 --> 0:09:35.000 your your whole conversation. UM, certainly if you're if you're 0:09:35.000 --> 0:09:37.240 into this podcast, you've probably already watched the episode. But 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:39.200 if not, I would employ you to go to fire 0:09:39.200 --> 0:09:41.439 Pit Collective dot com or go to our our YouTube 0:09:41.480 --> 0:09:44.760 and you can you can catch not only this episode, 0:09:44.760 --> 0:09:47.160 which is number six in the series, being they're the 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:49.480 first five, are also there as well and on some 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:54.760 really compelling golfers who have just tremendous stories, and and 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:56.560 the way we're able to tell it with a lot 0:09:56.559 --> 0:09:59.160 of a lot of authenticity, a lot of a lot 0:09:59.160 --> 0:10:03.119 of intimacy. It's um to me, it's just just fabulous storytelling. 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:07.079 So UM, anyway, that's that's all I have to say 0:10:07.080 --> 0:10:08.640 on the matter. This is allienship. Like, I'm going to 0:10:08.679 --> 0:10:10.319 sign off and we're gonna turn this whole the rest 0:10:10.360 --> 0:10:17.080 of podcast over to Matton Laird. We last left you 0:10:17.160 --> 0:10:22.959 at AUGUSTA right, and UM talked me through sort of 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:27.679 that whole experience and that week as you kind of 0:10:27.760 --> 0:10:30.440 now almost a year later, a sort of kind of 0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:35.760 looking looking back and reflecting on all that transpired. Yeah, 0:10:35.840 --> 0:10:39.120 I mean it was a full on week, like the 0:10:39.160 --> 0:10:41.040 most full one week out of any of the other, 0:10:41.920 --> 0:10:44.560 um things that went along with I guess whinning the 0:10:44.559 --> 0:10:48.720 brush amateur Like the Open, I guess the more sort 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:52.800 of familiar topic golf made that a bit more easy. 0:10:52.880 --> 0:10:56.560 And again the US Open also felt maybe a little 0:10:56.559 --> 0:11:00.840 bit more low key, but um, I guess for myself, 0:11:01.040 --> 0:11:02.480 I didn't get to play a whole lot of golf 0:11:02.520 --> 0:11:05.800 over the winter leading up to the Masters, and so 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:10.920 he kind of, you know, working towards that one tournament 0:11:11.160 --> 0:11:14.160 for the best part of sort of six months really, 0:11:14.200 --> 0:11:16.960 and I think that made it quite difficult not to 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:26.440 over prepare over age in some ways. And so you know, 0:11:26.440 --> 0:11:29.080 when I did come, it was just like a lot 0:11:29.160 --> 0:11:33.120 going on and it was a very intense week. I 0:11:33.160 --> 0:11:35.520 think as well. One of the things I really took 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.520 from it was how close everyone is to you on 0:11:39.880 --> 0:11:44.319 the golf course, like physically, the crowds so close and 0:11:44.360 --> 0:11:46.920 there's so many people, and I think maybe that's the 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:52.040 slight Tiger effect as well, that he was obviously playing 0:11:52.080 --> 0:11:55.040 that week, and I just felt like there was sort 0:11:55.080 --> 0:11:57.880 of fifteen percent more people and just the sort of 0:11:57.960 --> 0:12:01.720 energy around him as well was just um like there's 0:12:01.720 --> 0:12:03.880 just so many different little things I suppose they're go 0:12:03.920 --> 0:12:08.600 into just they're ramping up of the adrenaline and um 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:12.000 yeah it was. I mean it was awesome. Um but 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:14.559 it was I found it probably you know, looking back, 0:12:14.559 --> 0:12:21.599 and it difficult to to acclimatized quick enough, so almost clausterrophobic. 0:12:21.760 --> 0:12:28.040 Almost Did you feel a little almost tight? Um yeah, 0:12:28.040 --> 0:12:31.320 I guess. I guess so the golf course in parts 0:12:31.360 --> 0:12:35.520 can feel quite claustrophobic. And then you know, with with 0:12:35.520 --> 0:12:39.800 all the patrons as well, it's just um yeah, you're 0:12:39.880 --> 0:12:44.880 you know, you're hitting certain shots from I remember nine 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:47.839 as an example. You're hitting like a full nine nine 0:12:48.400 --> 0:12:52.080 um to a back pin and you've got you know, 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:57.600 people sat pretty much like seven yards from the hole. 0:12:58.840 --> 0:13:04.360 Um Like, you know, it's just like you're very, very crowded, 0:13:04.440 --> 0:13:09.960 and I guess that's what makes the atmosphere because you know, 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:12.280 everyone is but it's allowed to get so close to you, 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:16.160 so close to the green and whereas you know opens 0:13:16.200 --> 0:13:20.280 and us opens, you definitely probably have a bit more space. 0:13:20.320 --> 0:13:23.400 It's more like a stadium field, whereas like August, there's 0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:28.480 really not that many grand stands apart from maybe arounds 0:13:28.480 --> 0:13:31.800 of amen corner, but the rest of it it's just 0:13:31.960 --> 0:13:34.959 you know, sort of feet on the floor and um, 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:38.000 just sort of galleries that are ten deep. I mean 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:41.599 obviously not not the group I was in over the 0:13:42.160 --> 0:13:46.680 first two days. But on the Monday, for example, we're 0:13:46.679 --> 0:13:49.240 playing a paract around coming down nine and Tiger was 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:53.160 going up the first and it's just like a stampede 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:55.640 of people. I mean, it's just absolutely I've never seen 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:59.160 anything like it. So um and I think you only 0:13:59.200 --> 0:14:03.240 really get that at the AUGUSTA So that week. Do 0:14:03.280 --> 0:14:06.440 you think back upon that week, do you think you know, 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:10.240 obviously you wanted to play better. You probably if you 0:14:10.360 --> 0:14:12.920 had things to do all over again, you would have. 0:14:13.240 --> 0:14:16.080 You know, A guy only knows how that continues to 0:14:16.280 --> 0:14:19.080 run through your mind, But it does it still run 0:14:19.120 --> 0:14:21.240 through your mind? Do you still almost feel like you 0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:24.720 could go back and and and uh and sort of 0:14:24.760 --> 0:14:30.400 do it all over again? Um less so now, um, 0:14:30.480 --> 0:14:34.680 but now it's rolling around again this year, I definitely 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:36.600 think about it a little bit but um, yeah, I 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:38.640 mean I wish, I wish I've done a lot of 0:14:38.640 --> 0:14:42.520 things differently, but you know that's not how life works, 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:46.000 is it. So Um, as much as possible, you try 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:50.840 to I'll try to, um learn why I count from it. Um, 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:56.120 And I guess just use it as motivation because you know, 0:14:56.160 --> 0:14:59.240 I don't want that to be my only experienced there. 0:14:59.360 --> 0:15:04.280 So UM yeah, no, definitely for for a large part 0:15:04.320 --> 0:15:09.080 of last year. UM, it definitely was on my mind. UM. 0:15:09.200 --> 0:15:14.440 And you know it wasn't it wasn't helpful, and so 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:22.040 it's taken a lot too, I guess to work through. Um. Well, 0:15:22.080 --> 0:15:24.560 I guess playing bear. You know, playing bear helps, you know, 0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:26.760 you try and try and get out there again and 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:29.880 play better and try and forget about it. But I 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:32.680 mean it's yeah, it's um, it's it's it was tough 0:15:32.720 --> 0:15:38.120 to take at a time, but it's a valuable failure. 0:15:38.160 --> 0:15:40.160 I suppose it's how I tried to look at it. 0:15:40.200 --> 0:15:43.200 But it's that's that's quite easy to stay in conversations 0:15:43.200 --> 0:15:47.200 like this, but you know, deep down, it takes quite 0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:50.640 a lot of convincing yourself that was the case. And 0:15:52.000 --> 0:15:54.640 but that's it's it's you know, I guess. It's never 0:15:54.680 --> 0:15:57.280 black and white like that. It's sometimes where it does 0:15:57.680 --> 0:16:01.400 pop up in my head and I'm like, yeah, I wish, 0:16:01.520 --> 0:16:05.320 I wish i'd you know, done X, Y and Z differently, 0:16:05.360 --> 0:16:08.440 But you can't. You can't change. You can only just 0:16:08.600 --> 0:16:13.480 use that and try and improve. So will give me 0:16:13.560 --> 0:16:16.920 one thing, you know, if you're going to one thing 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:19.360 that if you had to do it all over all 0:16:19.400 --> 0:16:23.480 over again, what would you have done? I mean, I 0:16:23.520 --> 0:16:27.840 guess the major thing for me was I went about 0:16:27.880 --> 0:16:32.960 trying to improve my golf swing over that winter. UM, 0:16:33.000 --> 0:16:35.600 and I wouldn't have done any of that. UM if 0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:39.160 I could go back, because I'm still working my way 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:43.280 out of it. I mean, it's um, it's pretty um. 0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:45.720 That's why goal such a funny game. You know, I 0:16:45.800 --> 0:16:51.840 worked really hard for six months to get worse. UM, 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:55.800 Like it's quite funny. UM. So I wish I wish 0:16:55.880 --> 0:16:59.000 I had just kept to my sort of DNA what 0:16:59.120 --> 0:17:02.240 I was doing and just try to make that, you know, 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:07.479 one percent better, because how it performed at times, you know, 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:12.480 the Open and obviously to win the British Amateur in 0:17:12.520 --> 0:17:15.640 the first place, you know, it was it was as 0:17:15.640 --> 0:17:18.040 good as it needs to be. You know, Earnie needed 0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:20.679 tweaks here and there, but I sort of tried to 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:24.800 wholesale change a bunch of different things, not only in 0:17:24.800 --> 0:17:28.120 my long game, but all sorts of different things. And 0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:34.159 you know, it's it's you hear it on. Yeah, a 0:17:34.160 --> 0:17:36.440 lot of players talk about the dangers of it, and 0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:38.560 you know you end up jumping from coach to coach 0:17:38.600 --> 0:17:41.520 and and sort of danger of trying to search too much. 0:17:41.840 --> 0:17:45.160 And um, when you're listening to it, you're like, yeah, 0:17:45.200 --> 0:17:48.119 that makes sense, and then you find yourself making the 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:51.800 same mistake. It's just quite difficult. When you're wired in 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:54.680 a way that wants to improve and wants to work hard, 0:17:55.119 --> 0:17:57.520 it's quite easy to find a lot of things to 0:17:57.520 --> 0:18:00.840 to waste your time on. Basically, So, um, that's the 0:18:00.920 --> 0:18:02.520 number one thing. I would have just kept what I 0:18:02.600 --> 0:18:04.840 was doing because I was, I was it was good enough, 0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:12.200 Um how it was. Um. But you know, that's is 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:14.920 what it is. Like a lot of things positive came 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:18.520 out of having to prepare for the Masters. I ended 0:18:18.600 --> 0:18:22.760 up putting much better this last year than I had 0:18:22.800 --> 0:18:26.560 ever done before. Um, So you know, my mindsets trying 0:18:26.600 --> 0:18:30.280 to put all pieces together, try and get some long 0:18:30.320 --> 0:18:37.400 game performances that I was getting pre um twenty twenty two. Um, 0:18:37.480 --> 0:18:39.760 and I put that together with the sort of hutting 0:18:39.880 --> 0:18:44.639 and sort of short game bits I've improved, and we 0:18:44.680 --> 0:18:47.560 should be good to go. But as you know, it's 0:18:47.600 --> 0:18:52.160 never that simple. But that's the plan specifically. I remember 0:18:52.640 --> 0:18:55.240 when we were at Dukes and you hit in both 0:18:55.560 --> 0:19:00.680 you talked about feeling like to match what he did. 0:19:00.680 --> 0:19:04.679 Happened at Augusta. You were you were essentially trying to 0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:06.760 go from hitting a little bit of a cut to 0:19:06.880 --> 0:19:11.320 a drawer. Is that is that correct? Yeah? Yeah, um 0:19:11.760 --> 0:19:17.400 and yeah I probably would. Um, I probably didn't need 0:19:17.440 --> 0:19:20.240 to make the wholesale changes that I did to be 0:19:20.359 --> 0:19:22.439 able to do that. I could have just worked on 0:19:22.520 --> 0:19:25.720 him a bit more of a draw um. Like I 0:19:25.760 --> 0:19:30.280 can see how guys like Martin Kaymer comes to mind, 0:19:30.359 --> 0:19:33.800 or someone who fades it. Um, and I can see why, 0:19:34.160 --> 0:19:38.600 having played Augusta now that he might have went away 0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:42.880 and thought, you know, I need to be better at 0:19:42.960 --> 0:19:46.000 hitting the ball right to left. But um, that didn't 0:19:46.000 --> 0:19:48.800 really work for him trying to change. I think you 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:53.280 need to stick to what got you there in the 0:19:53.320 --> 0:19:56.200 first place. Obviously, for him it was world number one. 0:19:57.560 --> 0:20:00.880 So yeah, I was trying to work hanging it more 0:20:00.960 --> 0:20:05.399 rights left and a bit higher, and you know I've 0:20:05.480 --> 0:20:10.919 probably succeeded with that now, but just a long winded 0:20:10.920 --> 0:20:15.399 way of doing it. Um. But it's interesting when you play, 0:20:15.520 --> 0:20:17.919 when you play the golf course and then you go 0:20:17.960 --> 0:20:21.920 and think about it. You know, really you could probably 0:20:21.920 --> 0:20:24.479 get away with not having to do you know, hit 0:20:24.520 --> 0:20:28.720 too much, too many draws. You could probably play your 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:32.040 own game and just play it a little bit smarter. Um. 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:34.959 You know, you might give up twenty thirty yards here 0:20:35.000 --> 0:20:39.159 and there, but um, it's probably a better option than 0:20:39.520 --> 0:20:41.720 trying to hit shots that you're not quite comfortable with. 0:20:43.160 --> 0:20:47.160 It's funny because that golf course, we see a lot 0:20:47.200 --> 0:20:50.200 of it in a lot of ways shapes and forms, 0:20:50.240 --> 0:20:53.040 but it's it's that two dimensional version of what we're seeing. 0:20:53.119 --> 0:20:56.040 Then you get out there and you you know, everybody 0:20:56.080 --> 0:20:59.720 talks about like, oh, I can't believe how much undulation 0:20:59.800 --> 0:21:04.280 and slope and and you know, you you can't understand 0:21:04.640 --> 0:21:07.280 the tenth hole until you've stood on that tee and 0:21:07.280 --> 0:21:09.959 then ended up on that green and in front of 0:21:09.960 --> 0:21:12.159 that green, the runoff in front of that green and 0:21:12.200 --> 0:21:15.560 around that green, to the left. No one can understand, 0:21:15.680 --> 0:21:19.679 like that's that's like fifteen feet of drop. I mean, 0:21:19.760 --> 0:21:23.320 it feels like you can't even see up there. And 0:21:23.359 --> 0:21:25.600 I've covered a lot of you know, Masters and been 0:21:25.640 --> 0:21:28.160 out there, But until you're in the ropes and down 0:21:28.240 --> 0:21:30.760 there and having to hit that shot or or to 0:21:30.840 --> 0:21:34.000 the left side of number three and to a front 0:21:34.119 --> 0:21:38.680 left pin, and what the precision and accuracy that it 0:21:38.760 --> 0:21:42.600 takes to land that, you know, the greens within those 0:21:42.720 --> 0:21:46.600 greens and the shelving of like number six for a 0:21:46.640 --> 0:21:49.880 back left pin, and if you miss it right, you've 0:21:49.920 --> 0:21:55.560 got absolutely no chance to get up and down. You 0:21:55.680 --> 0:21:57.800 got no to try to get up, you know, to 0:21:58.400 --> 0:22:00.720 try to get down in three from that to try 0:22:00.760 --> 0:22:05.400 to you know, like it takes such accuracy. So that's 0:22:05.480 --> 0:22:09.200 it kind of makes sense to understand why first timers 0:22:09.359 --> 0:22:14.119 or amateurs or people who are just coming to that 0:22:14.119 --> 0:22:19.560 that that that venue. Then layer in the claustrophobia of 0:22:20.119 --> 0:22:22.960 the patrons and just the enormity of the idea that 0:22:23.000 --> 0:22:26.119 it's the Masters, and then you've got friends and family 0:22:26.160 --> 0:22:28.680 in town that might not normally have made the trip. 0:22:29.160 --> 0:22:34.600 All of that combined it almost feels like you got 0:22:34.720 --> 0:22:38.159 no to to set any kind of expectations of like, 0:22:38.240 --> 0:22:40.240 oh I want to finish, you know, make the cut 0:22:40.359 --> 0:22:43.320 or top fifteen or try to like it just almost 0:22:43.320 --> 0:22:46.800 feels unfair to yourself to try to set you know, 0:22:47.000 --> 0:22:49.080 I don't know, I mean, it's it's a lot. It's 0:22:49.080 --> 0:22:53.760 a lot, ye, I think, I mean, And I guess 0:22:53.840 --> 0:22:58.040 the issue is that you make those realizations ten days 0:22:58.080 --> 0:23:03.679 off to the things finished. Um, because like obviously you know, 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:07.640 as a comparitor, like you try not make those excuses 0:23:07.640 --> 0:23:11.320 for yourself and you know, it's a it's a golf tournament, 0:23:11.359 --> 0:23:13.720 like you've played many golf tournaments. But it really is 0:23:14.200 --> 0:23:19.640 like nothing else, even from from why I was sort 0:23:19.640 --> 0:23:22.000 of obviously getting to speak to a few of the guys, 0:23:23.240 --> 0:23:26.199 they they treat it as this one off event. You know, 0:23:26.240 --> 0:23:30.520 it's it's it's very intense. Um played nine ols of 0:23:30.720 --> 0:23:34.919 with Rory on the Wednesday, and you could tell he 0:23:35.080 --> 0:23:39.920 was he was sort of get up ready to go, 0:23:40.160 --> 0:23:44.679 like he It felt like he was very intense, very focused. 0:23:45.280 --> 0:23:49.000 Not why I expected on a pratch round of someone 0:23:49.040 --> 0:23:53.080 who you know has achieved what he has, but um, 0:23:53.160 --> 0:23:55.320 you know, it's just a lot of So it's just 0:23:56.560 --> 0:24:01.880 it's just a perfect venue for creating that kind of anticipation, 0:24:01.960 --> 0:24:06.440 I suppose and anxiety because as as you say, it's 0:24:06.480 --> 0:24:10.560 so it's so difficult to put your way around there 0:24:10.600 --> 0:24:15.879 and not make mistakes because it's it really is chess. 0:24:15.960 --> 0:24:17.520 You know, you need to see where the pin is 0:24:17.560 --> 0:24:20.400 and you need to plan backwards from that because there's 0:24:20.400 --> 0:24:22.840 certain places around the Green complex is that you just 0:24:22.880 --> 0:24:24.960 can't too part from and you can't ga up and 0:24:25.040 --> 0:24:30.000 down from and so um, yeah, you definitely see once 0:24:30.000 --> 0:24:34.520 you're there, you realize, you know, how how difficult it 0:24:34.560 --> 0:24:37.760 is for people that haven't been there before to compete 0:24:37.760 --> 0:24:41.080 because there's just such a library of dudes and don'ts 0:24:41.200 --> 0:24:45.080 that you only really find out from from playing in 0:24:45.119 --> 0:24:48.439 the event. Um. So I mean I was, I was 0:24:48.440 --> 0:24:51.880 literally saying that, Andy M the other day we were 0:24:51.880 --> 0:24:56.480 practicing and saying, you have such a better idea what 0:24:56.520 --> 0:24:59.040 you're going to do now than this time last year, 0:24:59.119 --> 0:25:02.679 because um, you know, having watched the guys play on 0:25:02.760 --> 0:25:06.320 the sort of torment conditions and play it yourself, you 0:25:06.800 --> 0:25:11.119 just you know, you realize this so many um little 0:25:11.119 --> 0:25:15.720 trap's been set basically for you, So um, it's gonna 0:25:15.840 --> 0:25:19.120 you're really interested to watch having played it, so I'm 0:25:19.240 --> 0:25:22.960 looking forward to to that. How do you get back, Laird? 0:25:23.080 --> 0:25:28.120 What's what's your pet from from the Masters last year? 0:25:29.200 --> 0:25:33.040 Talk me through then what you know? I guess before 0:25:33.040 --> 0:25:36.800 I having get there. It must have felt like from 0:25:36.800 --> 0:25:41.159 the time that you get into the Amateur and you 0:25:41.240 --> 0:25:43.919 go on and you win, and then you play the 0:25:43.960 --> 0:25:47.239 Open a couple of weeks later, and then you know, 0:25:47.760 --> 0:25:51.480 you start, you know, in theory, you start almost preparing 0:25:51.640 --> 0:25:54.000 for like you know, you've got the Masters, in the 0:25:54.080 --> 0:25:58.479 US Open, you get to Georgia Cup. Between that whole 0:25:58.640 --> 0:26:02.600 stretch you you would on from like COVID and and 0:26:02.960 --> 0:26:07.600 UM and just uh, you know, lack of confidence and 0:26:07.720 --> 0:26:11.639 you've got injuries and surgeries and you're in a swing chain, 0:26:11.840 --> 0:26:14.960 you know, sort of self doubt. Then you get into 0:26:15.520 --> 0:26:17.840 get into the Amateur, you start being able to swing again, 0:26:18.080 --> 0:26:22.280 you're now healthy. You win. Then then this magic carpet 0:26:22.359 --> 0:26:26.680 right unfolds that whole stretch from the moment you win 0:26:27.280 --> 0:26:30.920 to the time you know, say, to the to the 0:26:30.960 --> 0:26:33.880 to the day you leave Augusta must have felt like 0:26:34.040 --> 0:26:37.280 some sort of massive blur, like you got on too 0:26:37.480 --> 0:26:41.480 a conveyor belt or or a treadmill going at like 0:26:41.560 --> 0:26:43.640 eight and a half and you just didn't get off. 0:26:44.560 --> 0:26:48.160 I would imagine for a long time. There's not day 0:26:48.200 --> 0:26:51.000 goes by when you don't think about, I'm planning the 0:26:51.040 --> 0:26:56.119 Master's in April. You know, some's it's kind of difficult 0:26:56.160 --> 0:27:00.400 to I mean, obviously it's absolute blessing, but it's also 0:27:00.520 --> 0:27:04.639 difficult in its own way because you're so hyper focused 0:27:04.680 --> 0:27:07.960 on one tournament and trying to peak for one tournament, um, 0:27:08.160 --> 0:27:10.240 and you put so much emphasis on it, and that's 0:27:10.280 --> 0:27:13.960 just not how these guys. It's not how anyone succeeds. 0:27:14.000 --> 0:27:18.640 You know, they they they try and play the best 0:27:18.680 --> 0:27:21.720 every week that they play, they prepare for their sort 0:27:21.760 --> 0:27:26.360 of schedule. But you know, Rory's not hanging around all 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:29.800 year waiting for next week or for for the for 0:27:29.840 --> 0:27:33.680 the Masters like he's He's you know, no one's doing that. 0:27:33.920 --> 0:27:37.960 And obviously he's got the sort of pressure of the career, 0:27:38.000 --> 0:27:41.680 Grand Slam and stuff, hasn't he, But you know, it's 0:27:41.720 --> 0:27:44.880 just not how people succeed. You can't really decide when 0:27:44.880 --> 0:27:47.680 you peak. That's the difficult thing, and trying to force 0:27:47.760 --> 0:27:51.840 things that never works, and it's it's quite difficult to 0:27:51.880 --> 0:27:54.000 turn up to the Masters and just let it happen 0:27:54.040 --> 0:27:56.439 because you know, you've been waiting to play for it, 0:27:56.520 --> 0:28:00.720 playing it so long. So yeah, yeah, it was. It 0:28:01.440 --> 0:28:04.760 was certainly a wild ride. Um. And I remember saying 0:28:04.880 --> 0:28:10.400 to my family, UM, after I'd won the British Amateur, 0:28:10.840 --> 0:28:13.440 you know, now's a good time to start making some 0:28:13.520 --> 0:28:20.440 good decisions and um, ultimately I I didn't do that. Um, 0:28:20.480 --> 0:28:26.400 but that's only with a benefit of hindsight really, but it's, um, 0:28:26.440 --> 0:28:28.679 it's a journey. I suppose you learn, you learn from it, 0:28:28.760 --> 0:28:33.000 but no, it was. The whole experience was amazing. I mean, 0:28:34.160 --> 0:28:36.639 obviously getting to play the Open when you're riding that 0:28:36.720 --> 0:28:40.880 high still and then you know, having an opportunity to 0:28:40.880 --> 0:28:44.320 to be the answer champion for the year and um, 0:28:44.520 --> 0:28:49.000 obviously go and go and play knowingly, um, the Majors, 0:28:49.040 --> 0:28:52.000 but get some invites to tour events and just have 0:28:52.080 --> 0:28:55.440 the opportunity that not many people get to learn on 0:28:55.480 --> 0:29:00.760 this crash course of how to become a professional golfer. Really, Um, 0:29:00.840 --> 0:29:03.360 so that was really really fun. And then obviously until 0:29:04.040 --> 0:29:06.760 until I turn pro after the US Open, it was 0:29:08.360 --> 0:29:10.600 I never really had a chance to draw breath really 0:29:10.680 --> 0:29:15.240 until you know, probably in November time or December this 0:29:15.240 --> 0:29:19.360 this last year, because you know, you're you're going from 0:29:19.400 --> 0:29:21.440 being I'm a champion too, then turning pro and then 0:29:21.480 --> 0:29:25.920 you've got this sort of um notorieties I suppose of 0:29:26.000 --> 0:29:29.320 just having turned pro as yet exam's champion. Then you 0:29:29.320 --> 0:29:31.960 want to try and make the most of the opportunities 0:29:32.000 --> 0:29:35.040 that come with that in terms of getting invites into events, 0:29:35.080 --> 0:29:39.160 and you know, it was it was a very difficult 0:29:39.400 --> 0:29:42.720 year because I didn't have my game really, I was 0:29:42.760 --> 0:29:49.040 trying to find, find, um, my goal swing and um, 0:29:49.120 --> 0:29:52.320 so it was stressful because you feel like you want 0:29:52.360 --> 0:29:55.240 to make the most of this sort of opportunity and 0:29:56.400 --> 0:30:00.120 try and get ahead. But um, you know, you it's 0:30:00.120 --> 0:30:05.280 gotta keep keep going and you know good things are 0:30:05.280 --> 0:30:10.160 going to happen again, so UM, you know it's um no, 0:30:10.240 --> 0:30:12.360 it's been a blessing. It really has been been a 0:30:12.400 --> 0:30:15.880 lot of fun. So where are you now on the journey? 0:30:15.920 --> 0:30:20.800 Where do you sit in terms of status and plans 0:30:21.160 --> 0:30:24.600 and your focus and your swing and your health, your body, 0:30:24.880 --> 0:30:31.080 your mind, My body is all good, health, all good. 0:30:31.160 --> 0:30:35.720 So I mean that's something definitely be thankful for. Um. 0:30:35.920 --> 0:30:40.040 I had a few issues at the end of last year. 0:30:40.160 --> 0:30:43.720 But it's probably more mechanic goals and mechanic related and 0:30:44.360 --> 0:30:48.800 probably a bit of stress at the same time in 0:30:48.960 --> 0:30:52.360 terms of where I sit. So I guess it's it's 0:30:52.440 --> 0:30:55.840 quite liberating to say probably at the bottom of the pile. 0:30:56.880 --> 0:30:59.760 You know, I'm back at the start again in some ways. 0:31:00.040 --> 0:31:04.840 So you never, um, you never unwin the amateur So 0:31:04.920 --> 0:31:09.640 that's obviously something that I'll have to to my use 0:31:09.760 --> 0:31:13.440 in terms of hopefully getting some invites. But that's literally 0:31:13.480 --> 0:31:14.920 what it is at the moment, just hoping to get 0:31:14.960 --> 0:31:19.520 invites into pretty much anything, um, playing some miniature stuff 0:31:20.080 --> 0:31:24.240 back in the UK, um, and then you know try 0:31:24.240 --> 0:31:27.120 and you know look at Q school and stuff at 0:31:27.120 --> 0:31:30.680 the end of this year and I guess you know, 0:31:30.920 --> 0:31:34.640 Key School for the DP World tour um, and then 0:31:34.840 --> 0:31:38.800 just to see where see where other opportunities come because 0:31:39.520 --> 0:31:44.600 there's always there's always stuff that comes up and hopefully, um, 0:31:44.880 --> 0:31:47.400 if you can get a few invites and then you play, 0:31:47.480 --> 0:31:50.760 well you can get things snowballing. And that really is 0:31:51.360 --> 0:31:53.400 how a lot of how a lot of it happens. 0:31:53.480 --> 0:31:59.640 So but yeah, I mean it's just it's that's that's 0:31:59.680 --> 0:32:02.880 the pew your golf. Really It's like last year I 0:32:02.960 --> 0:32:05.960 was playing these top events, you know, with the best 0:32:06.000 --> 0:32:09.280 players in the world, and then next year you've got 0:32:09.280 --> 0:32:14.200 to earn the right to do that all over again. So, um, 0:32:14.280 --> 0:32:17.480 I'm looking forward to I'm looking forward to, you know, 0:32:17.520 --> 0:32:21.080 trying to win some events and just get in the 0:32:21.120 --> 0:32:24.560 thick of it againswer. So you're sending letters, you're seeking 0:32:24.600 --> 0:32:29.760 out opportunities, You're you're you're you're building relationships out there 0:32:29.880 --> 0:32:33.840 or trying to reach tournament directors. You're also tracking tours 0:32:33.880 --> 0:32:36.320 and trying to figure out how you can get to 0:32:36.640 --> 0:32:40.880 and qualify for you know, you need a place to play, right, 0:32:40.920 --> 0:32:43.720 you want to you know, whether you know, whether it's 0:32:43.760 --> 0:32:46.040 dp World Tour or the Asian Tour what like. You 0:32:46.160 --> 0:32:48.160 just got to find a play yea to sort of 0:32:48.160 --> 0:32:52.880 play regularly. Is that is that the plan? Yeah, it's um, yeah, 0:32:52.880 --> 0:32:56.640 it's all those things. It's it's just um and then 0:32:56.720 --> 0:32:59.880 you know, just trying to to make sure you've got 0:33:00.080 --> 0:33:03.680 everything in place for when you get those opportunities. UM. 0:33:04.240 --> 0:33:08.400 I've you know, I played played Asian Q School at 0:33:08.400 --> 0:33:12.800 the end of last year and that was interesting experience. 0:33:12.920 --> 0:33:17.360 It's um, you know, a lot of guys are in 0:33:17.360 --> 0:33:19.920 this position where they're they're just going to take any 0:33:20.000 --> 0:33:23.480 any chance they can get. You know, I can't say 0:33:23.520 --> 0:33:26.440 the thought of playing on the Asian Tour is there 0:33:26.520 --> 0:33:29.920 anything that I had thought about previously? But it's a 0:33:30.000 --> 0:33:33.960 case of if you can play golf and getting two events, 0:33:34.000 --> 0:33:36.240 then you go and do it, no matter sort of 0:33:36.240 --> 0:33:40.720 where it is. So, um, that's that. I guess that's 0:33:40.720 --> 0:33:45.520 a reality for a lot of people. Um, So that's 0:33:46.760 --> 0:33:49.520 it will be the interesting and hopefully see a few 0:33:49.560 --> 0:33:55.280 new parts of the world and the process. But it's um, yes, 0:33:55.600 --> 0:33:59.080 it's it's it's the grind, isn't it. It's like you're 0:33:59.120 --> 0:34:02.480 starting at starting again, and you know, you just try 0:34:02.520 --> 0:34:04.640 and make the most of ef chancies that come come 0:34:04.680 --> 0:34:08.680 your way and try and pick up any any so 0:34:08.800 --> 0:34:12.240 good fortune that comes along. Really, so, your work ethic 0:34:12.440 --> 0:34:15.879 is you know, unmatched, right you the time you put 0:34:15.920 --> 0:34:18.920 into it, whether that's on the range or in the 0:34:19.000 --> 0:34:22.880 gym or mentally spiritually thinking about I mean, I you know, 0:34:22.960 --> 0:34:25.040 I've spent enough time with you, I've talked to you 0:34:25.160 --> 0:34:29.400 and your inner circle enough to know that some people 0:34:29.680 --> 0:34:34.720 would say he might work too hard? Is that even 0:34:34.960 --> 0:34:39.200 something that you would even acknowledge or do you feel 0:34:39.280 --> 0:34:43.160 like or is there a balance that you're always seeking, 0:34:43.680 --> 0:34:47.000 trying to make sure that you're not you're not sort 0:34:47.040 --> 0:34:49.760 of putting too much pressure on yourself or you're working 0:34:49.840 --> 0:34:53.480 too hard for something specific. Is that something you're continuing 0:34:53.800 --> 0:34:58.440 You're trying to balance the balance. Yeah, it's really I 0:34:58.520 --> 0:35:03.680 find it really difficult, um to try and find that balance. 0:35:03.800 --> 0:35:07.120 But I've often found when I just take the foot 0:35:07.160 --> 0:35:10.760 off the gas slightly that good things start to happen, 0:35:10.800 --> 0:35:16.120 which is really bizarre. Um. But it's hard to do. Um. 0:35:16.200 --> 0:35:21.560 It's hard to sit there and and and not be 0:35:21.640 --> 0:35:25.880 working and thinking someone else's you know. But I think 0:35:26.640 --> 0:35:29.680 I think it is about hitting that balance. I think 0:35:29.760 --> 0:35:33.480 that the message of working hard is obviously it's a 0:35:33.520 --> 0:35:36.359 positive one, but I think it's one that a lot 0:35:36.400 --> 0:35:38.640 of people get wrong. And I'm definitely guilty of that. 0:35:40.040 --> 0:35:45.080 You know, I can burn myself out very quickly, and 0:35:45.120 --> 0:35:48.880 it's just when you add in the lifestyle of the 0:35:49.000 --> 0:35:54.600 toll prom with with the traveling, and especially in my 0:35:54.680 --> 0:35:58.480 position where I just don't know when my next opportunity is, 0:35:59.400 --> 0:36:03.320 you know, I kind of have to stay half fresh, 0:36:03.360 --> 0:36:05.800 if you know what I mean to go and play torments, 0:36:06.239 --> 0:36:08.279 so that's a difficult thing. And not being able to 0:36:08.320 --> 0:36:12.359 set a schedule, um, you know, just you're just sort 0:36:12.400 --> 0:36:15.200 of waiting around and you know, if you get told 0:36:15.280 --> 0:36:19.279 last minute you've got to travel to Thailand or where 0:36:19.320 --> 0:36:22.799 it is, you know, you don't want to be um 0:36:23.520 --> 0:36:25.600 of work they've been working flat out for two weeks 0:36:25.600 --> 0:36:27.839 before that, you know, because you're going to be going 0:36:27.880 --> 0:36:32.120 to find it difficult. Um. So it's definitely something I'm 0:36:32.160 --> 0:36:37.920 I'm trying to do better, trying to sort of engage 0:36:38.000 --> 0:36:42.160 other aspects of my life and trying to have some 0:36:42.160 --> 0:36:45.799 some time away from it because it's it's so all consuming, 0:36:45.880 --> 0:36:50.480 you know, especially when you've got social media full of 0:36:51.120 --> 0:36:56.480 golf swings and other people's stuff. You know, it's like, yeah, 0:36:56.520 --> 0:36:59.120 I can find myself sat there looking at golf swings 0:36:59.120 --> 0:37:02.359 that you know, one o'clock in the morning, like it is. 0:37:02.440 --> 0:37:05.520 It's some and thinking about stuff. So the more the 0:37:05.520 --> 0:37:09.319 more I can simplify that stuff and simplify what I'm 0:37:09.320 --> 0:37:11.560 working on and take that thinking out of that, I 0:37:11.560 --> 0:37:14.719 think for me the back because um, you know, I've 0:37:14.760 --> 0:37:17.200 got no problem with putting into time, but you need 0:37:17.239 --> 0:37:19.040 to be getting something from it, which is the most 0:37:19.080 --> 0:37:22.200 important thing. So um, but I think a lot of 0:37:22.239 --> 0:37:26.160 people have us saying issue. I'd say it's funny because 0:37:26.200 --> 0:37:31.120 you you know you're down. You were down eight with 0:37:31.280 --> 0:37:34.399 nineteen holes to play. You go to the turn at 0:37:34.400 --> 0:37:38.120 the amateur down seven, and it was like, hey, I 0:37:38.160 --> 0:37:40.520 just I just want to make sure I don't embarrass myself. 0:37:40.560 --> 0:37:43.839 It was almost like you let go, right like you, 0:37:43.840 --> 0:37:49.800 You let go, you stopped, you stopped thinking, you shrunk 0:37:49.840 --> 0:37:55.120 your expectations into something way more manageable, and then the 0:37:55.160 --> 0:37:57.920 ball started going in the hole right, and one hole 0:37:57.960 --> 0:37:59.840 after the next, and you know, and then you go 0:38:00.040 --> 0:38:05.080 on to win. You know, I would imagine that's that's 0:38:05.160 --> 0:38:09.360 the hurdle. That's your biggest hurdle is your own is 0:38:09.880 --> 0:38:12.960 yourself right like you If you can get to a 0:38:13.040 --> 0:38:20.719 place where you Laird Shepherd sort of mentally detach and 0:38:20.880 --> 0:38:23.640 allow the work and effort and energy that you've put 0:38:23.680 --> 0:38:28.440 into it to take over. If you can put your 0:38:28.480 --> 0:38:32.760 mind aside, you know, and let your let your playing 0:38:32.760 --> 0:38:36.640 ability and your competitive nature, athleticism, and your your effort 0:38:36.640 --> 0:38:41.400 and energy take over, that's probably where you're at your best. 0:38:41.800 --> 0:38:45.760 Getting there is the is the issue, right, just because 0:38:45.880 --> 0:38:48.680 to turn a brain off. That's why, like we've talked 0:38:48.680 --> 0:38:53.200 about Dustin Johnson is probably that's part of his his 0:38:53.400 --> 0:38:56.799 magic is he just doesn't He just almost like doesn't care, 0:38:57.200 --> 0:38:59.000 you know what I mean. He's he does put in 0:38:59.000 --> 0:39:01.840 the work, he's obviously talent, and he gets out there 0:39:01.840 --> 0:39:03.719 and he just plays the game. Jordan speech at his 0:39:03.840 --> 0:39:06.400 height of his powers was when he was just playing 0:39:06.400 --> 0:39:08.880 a game. He gets into and he gets a mechanical 0:39:08.880 --> 0:39:11.480 and he guys starts thinking too much. Rory at the 0:39:11.480 --> 0:39:13.680 height of his powers was when he was a kid 0:39:13.760 --> 0:39:17.560 like playing his game. Tiger kept that kid like spirit 0:39:17.600 --> 0:39:19.480 of just I just want to win. I want to 0:39:19.520 --> 0:39:21.279 get the ball in the hole. I want to beat 0:39:21.360 --> 0:39:28.680 these guys. Is there something to all of that for you? Yeah? 0:39:28.880 --> 0:39:32.439 Something that really helped me. Um, it was specifically aimed 0:39:32.440 --> 0:39:36.240 at like my putting, but I mean it generally works 0:39:36.280 --> 0:39:41.719 for most things in life. I'd say, is that, Um, 0:39:41.840 --> 0:39:43.840 you know, I was told basically, you know you do 0:39:43.920 --> 0:39:46.160 all all the right things. You know, you do the 0:39:46.239 --> 0:39:49.399 right work and the right practice, So once you're out there, 0:39:50.120 --> 0:39:52.520 you know, you've got to trust that you've done all 0:39:52.520 --> 0:39:55.480 that and then just just kind of let it go. 0:39:56.200 --> 0:39:58.719 You can't be trying to control it the same way 0:39:58.760 --> 0:40:02.399 you are in practice, because it just you know, that's 0:40:02.440 --> 0:40:06.160 not where you play your best um. And I use 0:40:06.200 --> 0:40:08.560 this stuff some names there. I mean, like, I think 0:40:08.600 --> 0:40:11.520 most of the best players in the world are artists 0:40:13.040 --> 0:40:16.279 when they're playing their best um. And I know that 0:40:16.280 --> 0:40:18.040 that goes for me. You know, when I'm playing my 0:40:18.080 --> 0:40:20.320 best I'm just seeing shots, you know, I'm seeing shapes, 0:40:22.600 --> 0:40:26.360 and I guess this in this technage, it's quite difficult 0:40:26.400 --> 0:40:30.239 to remain in that mindset because it's so easy to 0:40:30.280 --> 0:40:35.280 get dragged away. I remember actually doing something about Padreck Hyington. 0:40:35.360 --> 0:40:39.040 He said that for majors he would basically go through 0:40:39.080 --> 0:40:42.680 this process of trying to you know, like turn his 0:40:42.719 --> 0:40:46.280 brain off in terms of thinking about technical stuff because 0:40:46.280 --> 0:40:48.239 he you know, he self professed. He says he loves 0:40:48.239 --> 0:40:50.560 that side of the game. He said he would basically 0:40:50.560 --> 0:40:55.080 take him three weeks before each major to you know, 0:40:55.280 --> 0:40:59.000 get that technical sort of thought away and move to 0:40:59.080 --> 0:41:01.600 just where he was playing golf. And I think that's 0:41:02.440 --> 0:41:05.680 you know, where essentially, like everyone wants to be. That's 0:41:05.719 --> 0:41:07.880 where I want to be. It's a lot less stressful 0:41:07.960 --> 0:41:11.040 than than it is when you you know you're you're 0:41:11.040 --> 0:41:14.319 trying to play under pressure, but you also have got X, 0:41:14.440 --> 0:41:17.520 Y and Z to think about technically, it's I mean, 0:41:17.520 --> 0:41:19.959 it just strange you. It's really difficult to do. So 0:41:20.600 --> 0:41:24.560 UM yeah, that's definitely something that I think and you 0:41:24.680 --> 0:41:27.040 trust that I'm putting in the right world. But you've 0:41:27.040 --> 0:41:28.480 got to be doing the right thing first of all. 0:41:28.560 --> 0:41:31.400 But then if you're doing that, then that's all you 0:41:31.440 --> 0:41:34.360 can do. And then when you go and play, just 0:41:34.600 --> 0:41:39.080 go and be as sort of athletic and creative and 0:41:39.719 --> 0:41:43.319 three as possible. I suppose what are your goals and 0:41:43.360 --> 0:41:46.759 aspirations now where we sit here, you know, the end 0:41:46.760 --> 0:41:50.160 of end of March twenty twenty three and going forward, 0:41:50.200 --> 0:41:53.560 what's on your list? I mean this year is just 0:41:53.640 --> 0:41:58.040 to win, um some events basically, UM, I want to 0:41:58.040 --> 0:42:03.200 win again this year because I feel like that's what 0:42:03.200 --> 0:42:06.400 it's all about every level. If you can win at 0:42:06.400 --> 0:42:12.640 every level, you're you're going to be in a good spot. 0:42:12.680 --> 0:42:15.719 I mean, if you can win on a mini tour, 0:42:15.760 --> 0:42:18.640 there's no reason why you can't win at the next level. 0:42:19.160 --> 0:42:22.759 And that that's I think how you breathe confidence. But 0:42:22.840 --> 0:42:28.600 also to me, like I guess I'm a big dilemma. 0:42:28.640 --> 0:42:30.279 I think a lot of guys when they turn pro 0:42:30.400 --> 0:42:32.640 is that something is their job and you start thinking 0:42:32.640 --> 0:42:37.480 about making money. And I guess it's taken me a 0:42:37.480 --> 0:42:41.080 few months to kind of realize that, you know, if 0:42:41.120 --> 0:42:43.719 you go and play golf professionally, you can't start out 0:42:43.800 --> 0:42:47.200 doing it for the money, because one, there's not a 0:42:47.200 --> 0:42:50.879 lot of cash at the lower levels, but also it's 0:42:50.920 --> 0:42:55.040 not a good motivator. I've always played golf to try 0:42:55.040 --> 0:42:58.319 and win tournaments, and because I, like you, I love 0:42:58.400 --> 0:43:02.239 the game. I love playing golf. Um. So that's my 0:43:02.400 --> 0:43:05.200 main goal is just to win. It doesn't matter what 0:43:05.280 --> 0:43:08.239 tour is, doesn't matter what event you know, it's just 0:43:08.280 --> 0:43:11.759 to win events. Um. And then I think it would 0:43:11.800 --> 0:43:16.799 be to secure a basic gear, a card on whether 0:43:16.800 --> 0:43:20.080 it be Challenge Tour or DP World Tour or wherever. 0:43:20.640 --> 0:43:23.759 To be able to set a schedule for next year, um, 0:43:24.880 --> 0:43:27.600 because I feel like that's that's really when you feel 0:43:27.640 --> 0:43:30.799 like you are a professional golfer, when you're able to 0:43:30.840 --> 0:43:33.160 sit down in January and set out what you're going 0:43:33.200 --> 0:43:37.440 to play and then be able to plan your whole year. UM. 0:43:37.520 --> 0:43:42.160 I feel like if you don't get to do that. 0:43:42.520 --> 0:43:47.400 You aren't giving yourself a chance really to see to 0:43:47.440 --> 0:43:50.360 see even whether you know you're going to enjoy this, 0:43:50.400 --> 0:43:54.239 because it's very difficult to play without without being able 0:43:54.280 --> 0:43:58.160 to do that, because at no other point in your 0:43:58.200 --> 0:44:01.120 career are you going to be basically just sort of 0:44:01.120 --> 0:44:04.040 waiting around opportunities. If you're at top amateur, you know 0:44:04.080 --> 0:44:07.040 what you're playing in for that year, and if you're 0:44:07.080 --> 0:44:09.919 you know, a top pro or you're on some kind 0:44:09.920 --> 0:44:13.319 of tour, you can you be able to plan your 0:44:13.480 --> 0:44:17.919 your year. So that's my two main goals in terms 0:44:18.000 --> 0:44:20.560 of sort of outcomes. But I guess the main goal 0:44:20.680 --> 0:44:25.560 is just to keep getting better. And despite having a 0:44:25.560 --> 0:44:28.680 tough year last year, I feel like I did show 0:44:29.520 --> 0:44:34.279 signs that I probably was getting better still. It's just 0:44:34.400 --> 0:44:38.280 the competition is much tougher. You know. The few events 0:44:38.320 --> 0:44:44.440 I played on tour ends up making the cut that 0:44:44.600 --> 0:44:48.960 the don Helm and played pretty decent, and even at 0:44:48.960 --> 0:44:51.400 the times where I was missing cuts, I missed cuts 0:44:51.480 --> 0:44:56.800 by one or two shots, and I knew I wasn't. No, 0:44:56.880 --> 0:45:00.040 I didn't have my game. I didn't have my I 0:45:00.920 --> 0:45:04.239 didn't really have my my C game really for a 0:45:04.280 --> 0:45:06.520 lot of it it was. It was very much sort 0:45:06.560 --> 0:45:09.200 of trying to survive. But you know, if I can 0:45:10.080 --> 0:45:11.840 I can miss cup by one or two when I 0:45:11.880 --> 0:45:15.239 don't really know where the balls going, then I'm going 0:45:15.280 --> 0:45:17.719 to be able to I'm my best to compete. And 0:45:18.360 --> 0:45:21.120 that's what I kind of showed him September. So it's 0:45:21.200 --> 0:45:26.719 kind of that's the goal, is to keep keep keep 0:45:26.760 --> 0:45:30.520 getting better, but also keep refining my understanding of what 0:45:30.680 --> 0:45:32.840 I need to do, what my blueprint is, because I 0:45:32.840 --> 0:45:38.000 think everything becomes um less stressful when you have that 0:45:38.120 --> 0:45:43.000 under control. There's no way no one's not rooting for 0:45:43.040 --> 0:45:48.319 you and for me having now established this relationship and 0:45:48.640 --> 0:45:53.200 watching from afar and and just you know, obviously rooting 0:45:53.200 --> 0:45:56.520 for you, you know, beyond beyond just the game of golf, 0:45:56.560 --> 0:46:00.480 but just as a person and in life. But I 0:46:00.520 --> 0:46:04.160 see these rounds that you have, these moments, you know, 0:46:04.280 --> 0:46:08.480 sixty seven opening round Dunhill, you know, sixty nine Hero Open, 0:46:09.640 --> 0:46:13.640 BMW seventy one, seventy shoot, sixty nine second round of 0:46:13.680 --> 0:46:16.680 the Open, almost you know, barely, you know, just barely 0:46:16.680 --> 0:46:20.400 missing that cut listen, seventy five, seventy six at the 0:46:20.480 --> 0:46:23.839 US Open. You know, and again if you're not even 0:46:23.880 --> 0:46:27.920 feeling like that's your best that you've got and knowing 0:46:27.960 --> 0:46:31.560 that what's in there, the rounds that you can shoot, 0:46:31.680 --> 0:46:34.600 and the golf that you can play when you need to, 0:46:35.000 --> 0:46:37.120 and the puts you can make when you have to. 0:46:38.080 --> 0:46:42.799 You know, it just seems like the inevitable is you're 0:46:42.840 --> 0:46:46.160 going to get there. It's just a matter of it's 0:46:46.200 --> 0:46:50.680 not if, it's when, and it's for me, it seems 0:46:50.719 --> 0:46:56.359 so clear if you can just find that place that 0:46:56.400 --> 0:47:00.640 you need to get to. You know, almost men saying 0:47:00.640 --> 0:47:04.240 it mentally meaning to that you can not be engaged 0:47:04.320 --> 0:47:08.840 mentally is where you're you're at your most powerful. You know, 0:47:08.960 --> 0:47:14.120 that's your that's your strength, and and it's hard for 0:47:14.200 --> 0:47:18.560 you because it goes against everything that you do on 0:47:18.600 --> 0:47:21.640 a daily basis. Like you get up, you're consumed by 0:47:21.400 --> 0:47:24.680 your work, you're you're you're making yourself better. And then 0:47:24.840 --> 0:47:28.719 somehow you have to flip a switch and almost go 0:47:28.840 --> 0:47:31.719 back to like the kid that you know, kid in 0:47:31.760 --> 0:47:34.160 the backyard trying to learn, you know, just trying to 0:47:34.280 --> 0:47:36.839 see shots, be that artist that you're talking about and 0:47:36.880 --> 0:47:40.840 that you know, Bubba's won two masters, and DJ is 0:47:40.880 --> 0:47:44.960 one at Oakmont, and and and Augusta and Tiger the 0:47:45.160 --> 0:47:49.600 ultimate artist and and and creativity and that that those 0:47:49.640 --> 0:47:53.360 early days of Rory and Jordan, Well that's you. That's 0:47:53.400 --> 0:47:56.640 in there. You know you have all the shots and 0:47:56.719 --> 0:47:59.120 you have all the takes to get there. It's really 0:47:59.160 --> 0:48:02.279 just a matter of of of the stars aligning. And 0:48:02.360 --> 0:48:05.839 that is the grind, right like Dad's the grind. It's 0:48:07.320 --> 0:48:09.600 it's nice when you know what you need to do. Um. 0:48:11.120 --> 0:48:12.920 The real difficult thing is when you don't know what 0:48:13.000 --> 0:48:16.400 you need to do. UM Like at the US Open, 0:48:16.480 --> 0:48:22.720 for example, Um, I was I literally had no idea 0:48:22.760 --> 0:48:26.919 what I was doing really until Wednesday afternoon. I went 0:48:26.960 --> 0:48:30.040 to the range and just started to try some old things, 0:48:30.239 --> 0:48:32.840 old things that used to work for me, like completely different. 0:48:32.880 --> 0:48:37.960 I've been working on some stuff with I've working on 0:48:38.000 --> 0:48:41.640 some some swing stuff for probably about six weeks that 0:48:41.760 --> 0:48:47.200 point seven weeks and for whatever reason, just like you know, 0:48:47.239 --> 0:48:52.759 it wasn't comfortable, wasn't working. So yeah, Wednesday, just decide, right, 0:48:52.760 --> 0:48:55.480 this is what I'm gonna have to do. Um and 0:48:55.680 --> 0:48:58.000 like stress levels for me or through the roof. Obviously, 0:48:58.000 --> 0:49:00.960 I've definitely had a lot of scars from Augusta, but 0:49:01.040 --> 0:49:05.560 also thinking like I can't believe this happened again. You know, 0:49:05.719 --> 0:49:09.239 I worked work quite hard, and you know, just don't 0:49:09.239 --> 0:49:11.960 feel comfortable that I'm trying to do. And I'm here 0:49:11.960 --> 0:49:15.080 on the Wednesday before the event, just making up as 0:49:15.080 --> 0:49:19.919 I go along on the driving range basically, um, and 0:49:20.000 --> 0:49:23.320 you know, actually was relatively happy with how I played, 0:49:24.440 --> 0:49:28.080 but the thought of going into when the US Open, 0:49:28.280 --> 0:49:32.359 obviously it's it's the toughest test in golf. Um, that 0:49:32.480 --> 0:49:36.239 was pretty That was pretty daunting. I'll admit I was 0:49:36.840 --> 0:49:43.120 a bit stressed, but that Yeah, but it was a 0:49:43.160 --> 0:49:44.600 lot of a lot of fun in the end. To 0:49:44.960 --> 0:49:46.600 be able to get through it and be like, I 0:49:46.600 --> 0:49:51.000 think that was important as well. Um after Augusta too, 0:49:51.280 --> 0:49:54.319 and I know that I missed the cut by quite 0:49:54.320 --> 0:49:59.880 a few shots, and but to to just play better 0:50:00.600 --> 0:50:04.640 and realize and not it's not that far away, um 0:50:05.880 --> 0:50:07.799 was was good because it would have been difficult to 0:50:07.800 --> 0:50:13.200 deal with another sort of really tough result. So yeah, 0:50:13.239 --> 0:50:17.440 you're exactly right. It's just about it's about getting some 0:50:17.480 --> 0:50:20.080 consistency and what I'm trying to do, and then that 0:50:20.600 --> 0:50:22.560 basically leading to me being able to just sort of 0:50:22.600 --> 0:50:26.200 not think about things as much. And then then good 0:50:26.239 --> 0:50:28.439 things happen, and I know that. I think one one 0:50:28.480 --> 0:50:34.560 thing that I'll take with me from this experience for 0:50:34.760 --> 0:50:38.840 the rest of my career is that, um, it's for me, 0:50:38.880 --> 0:50:40.640 it's all about winning golf tournaments. And I know that 0:50:40.640 --> 0:50:43.319 if I put myself in that position, as you know 0:50:43.520 --> 0:50:46.839 multiple times last year where I didn't have my game, 0:50:47.080 --> 0:50:49.040 but you know I had to do X, Y and 0:50:49.120 --> 0:50:51.759 Z to make a cut or to feel like I 0:50:51.840 --> 0:50:54.640 was going to make a cut, and I was able 0:50:54.680 --> 0:50:58.680 to pull through some of those, and UM, you know, 0:50:58.719 --> 0:51:01.680 I know I've got that respect in me, which I 0:51:01.680 --> 0:51:05.600 think is quite a difficult one to teach. So UM, 0:51:05.719 --> 0:51:07.960 I just need to put myself in a position to win, 0:51:08.040 --> 0:51:12.480 and I know i'll I'll have a good opportunity. So UM, 0:51:13.520 --> 0:51:18.720 I'm very much looking forward to getting going, competing again 0:51:18.840 --> 0:51:22.600 and working way up the ladder because once you have 0:51:22.719 --> 0:51:28.319 seen the top of the tree the major championships, it's, um, 0:51:28.400 --> 0:51:32.680 it's it's really motivating because they're just so much fun. 0:51:33.880 --> 0:51:36.520 They're just so much fun, and obviously with the crowds 0:51:36.520 --> 0:51:39.520 and everything, it's just you know, you want that feeling, 0:51:39.600 --> 0:51:45.080 that buzz again. So yeah, I'm looking forward to to 0:51:45.360 --> 0:51:49.320 thinking less and playing better. My sense is, if you 0:51:49.400 --> 0:51:52.120 weren't a golfer, Laird, you'd be a mountain climber, because 0:51:52.160 --> 0:51:55.480 you seem to just love you love you love the climb. 0:51:55.560 --> 0:51:59.919 You know, you you you've had, You've overcome so much 0:52:01.480 --> 0:52:05.880 adversity in these last several years. Uh not unlike what 0:52:05.920 --> 0:52:08.439 a lot of people have dealt with, whether that that's 0:52:08.560 --> 0:52:14.120 covid or or or you know, professional you know, curveballs 0:52:14.200 --> 0:52:16.040 and and everybody you know, and we say this all 0:52:16.080 --> 0:52:19.160 the time, everyone's on their own personal grind, but you 0:52:19.320 --> 0:52:23.640 just you, it is not going to be surprising to me. 0:52:24.719 --> 0:52:27.880 Like again, it's not if it's when when I start 0:52:27.960 --> 0:52:31.760 seeing you know, you at the top of leader boards 0:52:31.960 --> 0:52:34.279 on a consistent basis, And I don't know where that's 0:52:34.280 --> 0:52:37.439 going to be, uh you know, I don't know who 0:52:37.480 --> 0:52:39.920 that will be up against, but I like, you know, 0:52:40.200 --> 0:52:42.759 you just you got too much fight and you and 0:52:42.800 --> 0:52:46.040 I think you, I think you you're willing to put 0:52:46.040 --> 0:52:48.880 in the climb and therefore you get to the tops 0:52:48.920 --> 0:52:51.000 of the mountains. You know, you get that's how you 0:52:51.040 --> 0:52:53.040 get there is because you're willing to put in the 0:52:53.680 --> 0:52:55.520 put in the time and the effort and energy and 0:52:55.560 --> 0:52:59.400 I think your effort, your energy, your you know, my 0:52:59.440 --> 0:53:02.719 biggest away from all my time I've spent with you 0:53:02.800 --> 0:53:06.439 and also talking to people around you, is the inspiration 0:53:06.520 --> 0:53:10.840 of your of your passion, your inspiration for your and 0:53:11.200 --> 0:53:16.080 dedication to the craft. And I think that's that will 0:53:16.120 --> 0:53:21.160 result in success. I just I just you have too 0:53:21.239 --> 0:53:26.200 much talent and too much doggingness to not get to 0:53:26.320 --> 0:53:28.960 the tops of whatever mountain you set to climb. And 0:53:29.040 --> 0:53:32.200 I so I can see you, you know, I know 0:53:32.280 --> 0:53:35.839 you're climbing again, and there's going to be someday soon 0:53:35.880 --> 0:53:38.000 where we see you at the top again, and then 0:53:38.040 --> 0:53:40.399 you're gonna probably have to you know, you'll go back 0:53:40.440 --> 0:53:43.000 down in the mountain. You'll climb again. I just feel 0:53:43.040 --> 0:53:45.359 like that's the way. You know, Look at how many 0:53:45.400 --> 0:53:48.359 mountains Tiger has climbed, or look how many mountains you know, 0:53:48.480 --> 0:53:53.320 guys like Justin Rose or Different, you know different Adam Scott. 0:53:53.440 --> 0:53:57.800 You know these guys have climbed mountains multiple time. Darren Clark, 0:53:57.960 --> 0:53:59.520 you know how look at how long it took for 0:53:59.600 --> 0:54:02.759 him to win a major. I mean, it just it 0:54:02.920 --> 0:54:06.319 just it's all out there. And I think to see 0:54:06.400 --> 0:54:10.040 Laird Shepherd again holding a big, you know, meaningful trophy 0:54:10.440 --> 0:54:16.200 feels like that's the inevitable, So well, I hope you're right, Um, 0:54:18.760 --> 0:54:23.480 yeah I am. Occasionally I'll go back and look at 0:54:23.600 --> 0:54:26.960 just the final sort of like two minutes from the 0:54:27.120 --> 0:54:32.840 amateur on the on the highlights and kind of relive 0:54:32.920 --> 0:54:36.160 that moment a little bit um and come to the 0:54:36.200 --> 0:54:39.680 realization that at times when I'm feeling like I'm not 0:54:39.680 --> 0:54:44.720 getting anywhere, you know, it was so worth it, um 0:54:44.760 --> 0:54:47.480 and again that if you go, I go, I've seen it, amor. 0:54:47.560 --> 0:54:51.160 But that's you playing golf. That is like you at 0:54:51.200 --> 0:54:54.720 the height of your powers in which you're hitting shots 0:54:54.760 --> 0:54:57.359 and you're hitting into us, but I gotta get here 0:54:57.360 --> 0:55:00.759 your strategy, you're plotting your your get on the green, 0:55:00.800 --> 0:55:02.920 you're making the ball goes in the hole. And then 0:55:02.960 --> 0:55:06.320 it's like that momentum you feed off I can see 0:55:06.480 --> 0:55:08.480 you know. Then you get that when you get that 0:55:08.600 --> 0:55:12.560 swagger and you get this that that that pep in 0:55:12.600 --> 0:55:15.160 your step. It's like, I don't know that just you 0:55:15.200 --> 0:55:17.160 look very hard to beat at that point when you 0:55:17.239 --> 0:55:20.239 get there, it's it's not going to be easy to 0:55:20.680 --> 0:55:25.200 knock you out. So yeah, get back there. You know, 0:55:25.360 --> 0:55:29.680 as often as possible because it's fun. It's fun to watch, 0:55:29.719 --> 0:55:31.759 and then it's probably fun for you too. And then 0:55:31.840 --> 0:55:34.200 when you do that, when you do that, you know 0:55:34.239 --> 0:55:37.360 you got to you gotta probably also remind yourself to 0:55:37.600 --> 0:55:40.560 enjoy it, you know, like it just uh, it's it's that, 0:55:40.840 --> 0:55:45.880 it's the balance. So, um, we're following, we're rooting you 0:55:45.920 --> 0:55:49.360 on were uh we're you know, I speak on behalf 0:55:49.360 --> 0:55:52.239 of a lot of people I know, um, not just 0:55:52.360 --> 0:55:54.560 family and friends, but all the all the people who 0:55:54.560 --> 0:55:57.279 have who have been along on this journey with you. 0:55:57.360 --> 0:56:00.080 So um JN. Thank you enough for a share in 0:56:00.160 --> 0:56:03.879 your story with us multiple times allowing us to sort 0:56:03.920 --> 0:56:07.840 of tag along at times that are that have been 0:56:07.880 --> 0:56:12.000 you know, pressure packed and distracting, and being so forthcoming 0:56:12.000 --> 0:56:15.160 with your with your thoughts and emotions and what you're 0:56:15.160 --> 0:56:17.480 going through. It means means a lot has been an 0:56:17.520 --> 0:56:21.879 honor to sort of help tell your story because it's 0:56:21.920 --> 0:56:23.919 one hell of a story. And like you said, they'll 0:56:23.960 --> 0:56:27.879 never then never take away that amateur championship from you, 0:56:28.080 --> 0:56:31.360 and you're forever on that trophy into the annals of 0:56:31.400 --> 0:56:34.600 the greatest you know, record book and all of golf 0:56:34.680 --> 0:56:38.799 and and uh and keep going. It's it's you know, 0:56:39.760 --> 0:56:42.840 look forward to watching where you where you end up. Well, 0:56:42.840 --> 0:56:47.240 thank you very much, it's been it's been surreal to 0:56:46.880 --> 0:56:50.680 to meet you and be able to share this story. 0:56:50.760 --> 0:56:54.760 It's funny. I was thinking to myself, it's some before 0:56:54.920 --> 0:57:00.760 this happened, I was sometimes, um imagine myself like speaking 0:57:00.760 --> 0:57:04.040 on a podcast, because I listened to so many of them, um, 0:57:04.680 --> 0:57:07.840 you know, not just on golf, but randomly on other topics, 0:57:07.880 --> 0:57:10.120 and you know, you always kind of like think what 0:57:10.160 --> 0:57:13.279 would I say if I was on one? And I 0:57:13.320 --> 0:57:15.959 guess that's what people talk about in terms of sort 0:57:15.960 --> 0:57:19.000 of trying to manifest stuff into happening, you know, And 0:57:20.040 --> 0:57:23.520 so I just find it really really a privilege to 0:57:23.560 --> 0:57:25.880 be able to sort of speak to you guys and 0:57:25.920 --> 0:57:31.200 haven't met you guys. It's just been been great And yeah, 0:57:31.440 --> 0:57:36.520 well we'll continue climbing. See you back at the top 0:57:36.560 --> 0:57:43.440 of another mountain, that's for sure. I've been big pleaded 0:57:43.520 --> 0:57:49.600 to win, made a fortune with my sho round the 0:57:49.720 --> 0:57:52.720 table and never thought I could find them, but Win 0:57:53.520 --> 0:58:00.640 hit me like a cannon ball. Now she is losing 0:58:00.680 --> 0:58:05.000 the street. Every road I take is a dead end street. 0:58:07.120 --> 0:58:10.720 I got thoughts in my head. Can't get them out, 0:58:11.440 --> 0:58:15.280 trying not to think what I'm thinking about. I got 0:58:15.440 --> 0:58:19.800 thoughts in my head, can't get them out. Trying not 0:58:20.000 --> 0:58:22.160 to think what I'm thinking about.