If You Have a Positive Attitude, You Can Almost Get Through Anything with Chris Riley

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Chris Riley 12 a 1973. So I'm 47 and I played the PGA Tour for 13 years. And now I'm the golf coach at the University of San Diego.

Thank you so much. Um, how'd you get started with golf.

So my dad started me, I grew up here in San Diego, San Diego has an amazing junior golf program. And it started way back in the 60s. And I was fortunate enough to live here where we had such a great junior golf program. And my dad was taught by his dad, so kind of just passed it along. And I just I've enjoyed it.

Oh, that's very nice. And yeah. What was your typical date? Sorry, what was your typical day like in your junior career.

So in junior golf, obviously, on the weekends, I'd be at the golf course all day, a little par three golf course called Tecolote Canyon, it's a part 58. And it was in the neighborhood, I grew up in Claremont, which is in San Diego. And they really helped me with my 100 yards and in which, you know, is very important. Um, at the time, I didn't know, you know, there's not, there wasn't a lot of coaching. Like there is now I just kind of went out there with my brother, and we just played golf all day long and had a good time. And, really, I didn't really have a swing instructor or anything like that. My dad helped me with putting in the basics of his playing like a grip, your grip, and, you know, just being on on plane and, but really basic. So I was fortunate enough to hang out with my brother who's three years older and being and I was the young guy hanging around all the all the other people and, and I got good enough to beat them all. So it was fun.

Yeah, that's great.

It's good to be the younger brother.

Did you play in tournaments? Austin? Yeah.

So in the summertime, I played all the time. And I did pretty good in that sort of meeting a piece I Yeah, we, like I said, we're very fortunate to live here in San Diego. We're literally tournaments were affordable. I think there are $2. And he got a hot dog, and a drink at the end. I probably there wasn't as many people back then just because the golf course would actually give you the golf would give our senior Junior Golf the golf course at no fee. And basically, we paid the $2 entry fee and it pretty much covered yours, your lunch afterwards. So we grew up in a very fortunate time. You didn't have to have a lot of money. But now these ajga is travel. It's just so expensive. So we were very fortunate.

I didn't know to make me $2

And you got a hot dog in a cup. Yeah.

What was one of your like your most favorable? Sorry, what was one of your most memorable or favorite tournaments in your junior career.

So in my junior career, it was probably when I was 17. at Torrey Pines. I was paired with a guy named Tiger Woods. And I was 17. And he was 15. And I had a three shot lead with six holes to go.

And he ended up beat me by one or two and I finished second in the junior worlds and he won the junior worlds he won everything but I grew up playing junior golf with Tiger Woods. He was from LA. And I was down here in San Diego. I was two years older than him. But you know, he was beaten everybody. But I beat him a couple times. So that was good. And then when we got on the tour together, it was it was really good because, you know, I I knew him way back in junior ago, people were afraid to talk to him and stuff like that. And I can walk right up to him and have conversations and pretty much you know, I think probably the best player that's ever lived. So definitely Tiger Woods was in there for my junior career.

Oh, yeah, that's really nice. Did you play any other big tournaments or into your golf? Yeah.

Um, Junior world was pretty much the biggest tournament now. Um, did you want to join the IMG Jr. World? Yeah, so I used to be the G optimist, you know, world and that's before my img but 15 years ago, but um, that was the tournament that the US Junior amateur conducted by the United States Golf Association. I did play in that three times. Never did that good. Made it to the quarterfinals one time, but I never, never got in the final. Actually, I did get the semi finals when you're when I was 15. I asked David Duvall, who played the tour for a long time, but those were the two big ones junior world and in the United States Junior So, yeah, those were those were I actually did went to junior Orleans when I was 12. So that was pretty cool.

Oh, that's great. And then I noticed that you went to unlv, How'd you manage to get on the golf team?

So that was an amazing story, too. I am growing up here in San Diego, in junior world where all the college coaches come to recruit, they came down and obviously, you played well. And your second. And I think the other two years I did pretty good as well. But a lot of colleges were interested in me until they saw my transcripts. And then when they saw my transcripts, they're like, can't get you in the school sees aren't going to cut it. So the two schools that were left were Arizona State and UNLV. And Arizona State, I went there, Phil Mickelson took me around. The guy who showed me around, I was recruiting on my recruiting trip. I got back to San Diego, and I told my dad, I want to go to Arizona State. Well, he goes, that's fine. But you have to go up to Vegas and see what UNLV has to offer. So I'm like, okay, yeah, but I know I want to go to Arizona State. But I took the recruiting trip up to UNLV. And I saw shadow Creek. And when I saw shadow Creek, I was like, I was like, I want to come here. So at one point, I was committed to two different schools. And it's amazing that Dwayne is still there. You know, they weren't good before I got there with Warren scooter. But when I got there, they really got they really took off. And Las Vegas is dear to my heart. I just, you know, playing at UNLV and then live in there and playing the tour for 12 years out of there. And it's just a it's a great place. You're lucky to be in Vegas.

Really cool experience. What do you think made the coach pick you? Um,

I mean, honestly, I think coaches just pick the best players. And I was definitely one of the best players in my age division for the class of geez, what would have been 9092 was the class of my high school graduation. So and coach now he was he's such a good man. And and, you know, like I said, I think he's in his 34th year at UNLV. So it was kind of a no brainer for me after I like Coach Knight better than the Arizona State coach, that's for sure. And that's important. Angelina, when you're picking colleges. You're gonna see your golf coach so much that make sure you really click with the with the coach. I mean, you get your, you know, your recruiting, you're gonna fall in love with all these schools. But at the end of the day, you're there. If you decide to play golf, you're there for the golf coach and the golf team. So. So that's just a little bit advice for

Yeah, that's great advice. Yeah. And I think you already said this. But was there any other reason you chose to go to UNLV shadow Creek

and the practice facilities at the timing used to be the desert or the wind golf courses now? They were, let me tell you something to Las Vegas, the community, the golf, the golf people there. They're so nice to the college players. And literally, I could pick up the phone at any time and Spanish trails Summerlin, they'll be like, yeah, come on out. Come on out. Down here in Southern California. It's a little different. We have to pay for memberships and, and it's just, it's just a different Vegas is great for golf. I think it's better for golf than Southern California.

Oh, okay. That makes sense. And how did it feel to be a four time All American?

You know what, at the time I didn't even know, you know, I was UNLV first four time all American and literally, I didn't even know it. I didn't even when you're in college. I don't even think about it. I just I just played the best call. I could. I had a good time. I made a lot of great friends. I'm still friends with a lot of people in Las Vegas. You know, your teacher makes your guy's brother Aaron. Bob a lot of guys a lot of guys are still my friends and I didn't really think of the accolades or or you know what I was winning or I was just out there to have a good time and and play some good golf.

And I think what to be all American you have to have good grades, right?

So no, oh, no. It's an act. That's an Academic All American. Oh, he keeps he keeps licking his thing. So I have to

Yeah, I was I was an all American golfer, not an academic All American. There are. I think to be an Academic All American. Don't quote me on this, but I think you have to have a 3.5 or higher. Where do you go? Where do you go to high school?

I go to Clark Okay,

the Chargers

Yeah, the Chargers.

Yeah, I had some friends that went there. The car charger?

Yeah. It's a bit of a competitive school. So

is it academically or sports?

Um, I'd say more academically, like, how do I put it all the other kids go there. You

do. Would you live by Clark?

I live like 30 minutes away. So what's your

what's the nearest school in your neighborhood? Um,

I think it's Paulo.

Okay. So your school is kinda like art Canyon. Canyon crest Academy down here in San Diego. It's up in Northern Santa. I mean, it's very, it's all about academics. There are schools that are they probably have good programs and stuff like that.

I mean, it's just like a magnet school bus. Rather go to Paulo. Um, we were thinking about Paulo, but it just came down to Gorman or Clark.

Feelings. I had a feeling if I still live there. My kids would have gone to Gorman or faith Lutheran.

Oh, those are really cool. Yeah. I know. Like a lot of my friends went there. Where do you play all your golf? I'm at Summerlin. Okay, now back to it. In 1995, you played in the walker cup? Yep. Yep.

Yeah, it's it's, uh, I don't know if you know what the walker cup is. But it's the best amateur golfers that plays Great Britain and Ireland. I think Eric makes played in it too. I think he did. He won the USCM. Right, and 89. But once again, Tiger Woods was my partner. So it was really cool. We had a great experience. I can send you some pictures if you want of our team. But no, we went over to Wales over in Europe. And we didn't win. We got our butts. I don't think we got our butts kicked, but we lost. And it was a great trip. I was 23. I was 20 years old. Yeah, 20 years old. Maybe 21. But I was an amateur in playing golf at UNLV. And I was selected. I had a I had a pretty good summer. And the United States Golf Association selected me and just to go over to Europe and play for the first time was amazing. Golf courses are very different. very windy. Got to get the ball on the ground rolling towards the hole versus over here where you have to hit high shot block shots. But

it was fun. Oh, that's great. Were there like any adjustments you had to make?

Um, no, once again, I was 21 years old. I didn't really think much about it. But not really the adjustment. I think the main adjustment was is you use your putter a lot or when you're off the Greens instead of chipping with your 60. So just get the ball on the ground and running towards the hole was the thing that I remember most about playing golf in the walker cup in Wales.

Oh, that's nice. And how did it feel to lead and help your team to get second at the NCAA championship? Well,

to be honest with you, Angelina, we should have won it all that year. Or we lost Arizona state. But our fifth player had a really tough week, we felt so bad for him. I don't think he broke at five one day. And if he would have just broke, I think we figured it out. 79 One day we would have won. But his name was Chris Berry. And he asked Eric knows him really well. He actually two years later came in second in the NCAA is individually in the UNLV. One at all in 1998. So it was bit of a redemption for him. But for the guys on the 96 team. It was kind of a sour taste in our mouth. But I'm I'm still to this day, great friends with Chris Berry. And that was tough. That was tough to see him struggle like that. And he just had no idea where the ball was going. And the course was super narrow. And he just he just, he just struggled. Tiger Woods won that year. And he won the individual. It was in Tennessee.

Oh, so you grew up with Tiger Woods your whole life then

pretty much. If we saw Tiger we could have a conversation with him. I'd ask him to do an interview for you. But I don't think he probably would it. Yeah, I can ask. Oh, it'd be great, but yeah, that'd be a good one. Yeah, you just have back surgery though. Have you ever heard of a guy named noted again? He's on the Golf Channel. He's Tigers friend.

I heard

Okay, was that

a golf tournament? Like the one that?

Yeah, he has his own golf tournament?

Oh, that's your host is that? Yeah, he goes, Oh,

what do you shoot? What? What do you shoot?

Um, it's hard to say.

I mean, are you do you shoot 76 every time?

Um, it depends like right now I'm kind of going through adjustments. So it's

okay. Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. What's your lowest round ever?

I'm 68. That's good.

That's really good. I have a 16 year old daughter and a 14 year old daughter. My 14 year old daughter doesn't. She plays a little bit, but my 16 year old daughter actually just left today she was going over to Arizona for a tournament. But she committed to play golf. She's gonna play at Louisiana State LSU in a couple of years. Yeah. So she's excited. My wife, my wife was an LPGA. Player. Yes, it's crazy.

It's just like all family.

Yeah, except my 14 year old She doesn't. She likes to sing and dance.

That's really cool. Yeah. And you turn pro in 1996. How did that? Oh, sorry. What made you come to that decision? So I mean,

that was just the thing to do. I think everybody does that. They go to college, they play there for years. And that's the next step. And fortunately, I was good enough to where paying, wrote me a check for $15,000 and told me to go play. And so I so 50,000 Back in 1996 is probably like, they wrote me a check for 35,000 in today, just to get me going. Because it's a as you know, it's expensive to travel the country and I don't come from money. So fortunately, when I started playing, I did well in my first few pro tournaments and save some more money. And then fortunately, my second try I made the Korn Ferry tour and then made some more money and just kept making money and then made money.

And then I know it said, you went through web.com and you actually got qualified to the PGA Tour. Can you tell us about your web.com

So back then you could go to tour school. They still have a tour school, but it's for the Korn Ferry tour. Back then, it was for the PGA Tour. And I made it through my third try. And it was very quick. And it was you know, it was awesome. I got my tour card. And the next thing I know I'm warming up next to Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh. Unfortunately, Phil Mickelson is also from San Diego. And I know him as well. So the stars of the tour I actually knew so I felt kind of comfortable being out there. But it's totally different these days. I mean, college kids now they're ready to go play after one or two years and very much more competitive, much more of a world game. But I will tell you this Angelina, that was probably in my time probably one of the best putters that you've ever seen. I mean, ball striking. I was just okay. My short game and putting was I'll put it up against Tiger Woods back in the day.

Yeah, I know. Like when we were talking to Coach Meeks, you mentioned that you would make every single putt. Oh, it was

it's insane. And I still do. I'll play with my guys. And I'll call flop shots and make 30 footers and they're like, how do you do that? And I'm like, I don't even know I just hit it and go in. So it's like, just practice, practice, practice, practice. I just practice for hours on top of hours. And I do believe I do believe the more time you put in, the better the breaks are that you get. That's why I think

Did you do any drills for putting or?

Yeah, I would make I would make 103 footers. Now try this every day. It takes you about 20 minutes. It's not even that much. I'm making my 16 year old do it right now. But and when your back starts hurting a little bit, that's when you know you're really starting to do it. So yeah, I get it every day, seven days a week. I've made 103 footers and I've just put Pop Pop cut, you got to a golf course. Everybody's in the driving range. You look at a putting green, it's empty. There's just nobody putting. So I always did the opposite of what what people did just because I'm not going to be you know, I'm not going to do what everybody does. I want to do something unique.

Yeah, definitely yeah. Did you do it like in the same spot? Or no

I do. It's called the Ring of Fire. I do the Ring of Fire and you can miss. I wasn't that guy, you had to make 100 in a row I just made 100. Another bad thing you can do is get onto a putting green and start putting from 10 feet. You want to start short just to get confidence and seeing the ball going in the hole. See the ball going and I'll see the ball going in the hole and just get confident. 103 footers keep making them, keep making them, keep making them. And you'll be surprised how many pitches they're making from outside and three feet. I mean, I just I love putting No, it's my favorite thing in the world.

Yeah, it sounds like you're such amazing better.

Alright, I am

putting contest sometime.

Oh my gosh.

No. So you know what's so funny? Is if you were if you were a boy, I couldn't do this. Because you would be well, you'd be a potential recruit. Oh, you know what I mean? But since your since you're a girl, I can do it. But um yeah, so that's good. Because I I'm not even allowed to talk to sophomores. No way. Yeah, sophomores until June 15. Oh, so like, zoom. I can have zoom calls with them. But I just can't. I can't. I just can't talk about No, I can have zoom calls with my with my so I have one. Oh, but he met Ryan Podolski girl. Yeah.

are like, yeah,

he's coming to my school. Nice. Yeah, he's playing for me in 2022. So I talked to him. But I can't talk to the 2020 threes, even

though it was just I know, like back in the day, so you could recruit whenever Right? Or?

I've only been doing this for this is my fourth year. Fourth year. I think you're right, though. I think I mean, I think like 15 years ago, I could recruit at 12 year olds if I wanted to. Yeah.

recruiting class is different now.

Yeah. Where do you want to go play?

Um, I think like any worse fine. I think I'm looking. Are you looking for academic? Um, just more academic better, like stronger academics? Yeah, I

mean, have you looked down in these colleges called like, Occidental and Pomona Pitzer, those schools down here in Southern Cal?

I'm not yet. Okay.

Have you been to California a bunch?

Yeah, I play a fair amount of tournaments. There.

You play the future champions?

Oh, yes. Yeah. Yeah. I just started doing more this year. That's great.

Yeah,

thank you. Now, you got in and played on the PGA Tour in 1999. What feelings did you experience then?

Um, so in 1999, I was just, I had an amazing first eight tournaments. It's called the west coast swing. And I played good. Tory, I played good at the Sony Open and I played good. somewhere else. But after that, I got my butt kicked. Just because you're playing against people that have already played the golf courses. So many times, I was only 25. I was learning everything new. So basically, I held on for dear life. And then the second year, I started getting it going in the third year. I started really getting it going. And then years four or five, six is when I made the Ryder Cup. And then I started having my children and I was terrible at juggling career and home life and didn't play as well. But from about 2000 until 2006 I was one of the best players in the world. I got to I got to 21 in the world. And I didn't you don't really I don't know about you, but I don't really think much about it when you're doing it. I don't know. I don't sit there and go wow. Like it is like I mean it is it is amazing. And the first time you get on a private jet, you fly from a tournament to a tournament and you know the Cadillacs waiting for you when you get off.

Yeah, so

yeah, I definitely overthinker so I

don't think so much.

And then I know in your first year as a professional, you managed to get top 10 at the Sony Open. Can you tell us about that?

Yeah, so the first very first PGA Tour event 1999 I was so nervous. I snap hook the ball at about. Oh yeah, I was so nervous. But guess what, with four holes to go, I was winning the golf tournament. Yeah. And then I just, I made like two bogeys coming in and lost by to. And but it's amazing first shot out of bounds for holes that go on leading, but then I didn't finish strong and and you know it was just it was awesome. I love going to the Sony Open every year. I think I played it 13 times. So it was it was it was pretty cool. Yeah, it's crazy.

You guys play at the Kapalua. Right. Yeah, I

played there once. I only want to once on tour. So the people, those are the people. Yeah, that's a that's a great way to start. They put you up at the Ritz Carlton.

And yeah, nice, huh. And you

also talk to you your first win on the PGA Tour in the 2002. Reno Tahoe open. Can you tell us about that experience?

Yeah, so the week before it was the PGA Championship. It's a major. There's four majors on the tour that finished third. So the week before was a major, it was called the PGA Championship. And I finished third. I played I was playing really well. And then I rolled into Reno and playing well. I didn't know it. I felt very confident. I win the tournament. So I went like a million dollars in a week stretch, which back then was like, 2 million now. So yeah, it was crazy. And then that was a great year. 2002 Because I got married. Yeah, it was cool. It was a it was a good year for sure.

And then I know my second question was asked gonna mention the PGA Championship. Can you tell us about that?

Um, yeah, so the PGA Championship. I played that was the, that was the major I played best in I had a third and a fourth place finish. My best memory of the PGA Championship is the 2004, one at whistling straits, where I played on Sunday with Phil Mickelson. And he is like a rock star. Like the people are lined up and they're walking out in there, like fell. And I'm playing with him. And I'm just locking, you know, just go ahead with that. Like, we're about me, you know, like there's film but here's Riley right here. Yo. Just kidding, I just noticed. But it was a good time. I actually do feel that I shot like 69 and he shot 70. So that was a thrill to play with someone I admired grown up in junior golf. And that was 1004 PGA.

Oh, that's great. Yeah, it was fun in 2002. You also played in the Ryder Cup. Can you tell us about that experience? Yeah,

so 2004 I played in the Ryder Cup with Tiger Woods again. So I played the walker cup and Ryder Cup with Tiger. And that was not gonna cause me really, our butts kicked that week. But I was paired with Tiger a few times in, in the tournament. And I mean, the crowds are crazy. Young Tiger is a rock star in both forums at the height of his his golf. And so it was it was fun. I mean, I just, I just feel so looking back at everything. I just had fun. I just had fun with everything I did. And the chips fall where they may. And it was it was awesome. So I'm very thankful.

That's really great. And like winning the past term and so that get you into there.

Um, yeah, so basically the Ryder cups a tune air point system based on how you view and all those tournaments for two years. And I played well enough with Tom and he got points for top 10s And I played well enough for two years to make it to the Ryder Cup. And it was just it was just two years of you know, hard work paid off. And you know what, Angelina, I didn't want to be the guy that was still out there. I love what I'm doing now I love I love hanging out with with college kids and trying to help them get better with their games and at the same time have fun. I had so much fun at UNLV where this is my way of kind of giving back to the game makes helps you guys out you know wants to see you do well and I want to see my college players. Well, I'm excited to get played as teachers just you know, he's he's, he's all in on golf and school. He does well in school. So I that's my way of giving back.

Yeah, that's great. Yeah. And you played in many other majors such as the open, the US Open, and the masters can tell us about those experiences.

So yeah, I played the Masters three times. And all three times, I wish I would have enjoyed it a little more, I probably put my put a little bit of pressure on myself. And that was, that's the only golf course I've ever felt like, if you hit a putt too hard, it's gonna keep going, and then go into the water. So it's like, very, like, very tentative, if you get it in the wrong spots, you got to play defensive golf. Tiger and Phil, they know that golf course, like you know, the course you can play every single day. Like they know exactly where to hit it exactly where the pins are. When you play in it one or two times, it's like, you know, I just dreamed of getting to the masters. I didn't dream of winning the masters. Like, I always happy just to be there. So yeah, I mean, that was a thrill us open was always too hard for me to set up super hard. I never played very well on that. And a lot of the times I didn't even try to qualify for it.

Ah, also, how'd you get in there? Did you just for the

US Open. So if you're ranked top 50 in the world, they give you automatic exemption. And one time I think I qualified just by playing. But yeah, if I can win one major, it would probably be the masters just because you get to go back every year.

Oh, that's great. And do you still play like in the senior chore? Or did you

know the senior tour starts at age 50. And I just turned 47. Oh, so right now I'm just concentrating on our golf team doing really well, which we're heading in the right direction. So we actually go down to Arizona this Saturday, and playing a tournament. So yeah, I'm excited about that.

Yes, you guys are gonna win. I hope so. And then you have like, many great tournaments, and I just couldn't choose which one to ask some of your favorite ones.

So the My most memorable one is here in Torrey Pines. I got into a playoff with a guy named John Daly and a guy named Luke, Donald. And all my friends Imagine having 10,000 people on the whole all your friends from when you're growing up. Everybody from San Diego that I knew was out there cheering me on. But But John Daly was a bigger, everybody was cheering him on a lot more. And I made a putt that did a 360 lip out to the Bernie goal. And I did a 360 lip out to make par and that was devastating because other than the Masters winning Torrey Pines on my home course would have been the best thing ever.

Was that the farmers in Sure? Yeah,

farmers.

That's great.

It was fine. It was fun.

And now you're the head coach at USD, how's your experience there?

It's been great. I mean, the first two years, we really were really bad. I mean, my guys couldn't break 75 or 76. And now I feel like my whole team can shoot under par. So it's just a lot of hard work a lot of recruiting a lot of talking with families and, and UC San Diego is a great school. We don't have a girls golf team. So that's unfortunate, but it's a great school. It's tough academically. It's expensive. But it's small. So, you know, I don't know which, how'd your sister?

She's 12.

Okay, so when you get to college, you're gonna either want to find a college that's big, where like a lot of people or a smaller school that's private. Our school is small and private. So you pretty much know everybody on campus. I think there's 5000 6000 people. Whereas if you go to like a UNLV or St. Louis papers, 30,000 35,000 So you don't know a lot of people.

I know. You'll you'll find Yeah, plenty of time. But yeah, so it just depends on what, what a kid wants, but Cienega is a great place.

Yeah, it sounds really nice. It is what made you decide to coach there.

Um, so when I got off the tour in 2012, I took four years off to be with my family and my girls and help them and then and then I didn't know what I wanted to do. And I actually was a volunteer assistant coach up at UNLV when Coach night and yeah, it was cool. And I was fortunate enough to have this job open up and I'm They hired me. And it's been great. It's been, it's been awesome. I've met a lot of nice people through school. Like I said, I love trying to help young people like yourself get better. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge that will help to help young players. If they want to listen, sometimes it blows my mind that some of the kids don't want to listen to me. But you know, I'm like, Okay, go ahead and do it. Yeah, there you go double bogey, like, kid. But now, it's been great. It's been great. It's my it's my way of giving back.

Yeah, that's amazing. And I know you said like, the first two years of you coaching there, your team was like, not what you expected. How did you make them better?

Unfortunately, I didn't, they actually graduated. And then then I brought in my own recruits, who are better player. That's funny, he said that because I was trying to make them better. But they weren't there to get better at golf. They were there to go to school and, and be great. And academics, which is fine. But I'm the golf coach, I'm not the chemistry teacher, like I need my golf players to be good.

So basically, it's a waiting game, when you inherit a program that needs change. You run the kids through a program that are already there. I was supportive with him, I tried to help them, but they just weren't really that much into golf. They gotten a golf scholarship, to go to college and not to be now now out of my 11. Guys, eight of them want to play professionally. And so they're all in so they're so it's just a different. It's a different mindset, versus when I took over versus now.

Oh, that's great. And what do you look for in a player?

Um, well, the thing I look for that you can't see is inside their head and inside their heart, you know what I mean? I want to see if they have a lot of heart and a lot of, you know, the only reason not the only reason but the biggest reason that I made it on the PGA Tour. And where I am now is my attitude. There is not one person with a better attitude than me, Angelina, I am the best that if it's raining, I want it to rain harder. If the winds blowing, I want it to blow harder. I don't want to. I want what other people don't want. If if the wind is blowing 25 into my face, I love it. Like, my attitude. There's nothing that there's nothing that gets me down.

I just I just think you have to embrace all the challenges. And it's how you deal with that. They get you to head on the golf course. And in life, because you're young, but there's a lot of things that's going to happen. And if you have a positive attitude you can get through almost anything you can do.

Yeah, that's, that's great advice. Oh, what other things or like, Do you think there's any other things that make you want to pick a player besides score?

Um, you know what, you know what it is? I mean, honestly, I'll, I won't, I won't talk to you. I'll talk to your people around you. I'll talk to your swim coach, I'll talk to you because you're gonna tell me what I want to hear. I want to hear what what you're like, from people who don't you know? So but what do I look for? I look for obviously, someone who's a great putter. I mean, you can hit three bad shots and make the puck make par. I think the putting is the biggest part of the game. Do you want to be great? Which kills me because my 16 year old. She's really good at ball striking and are putting in like, I can't even watch like it's so like, because I'm so used to like making 30 phones and she like hoping to to putt from 30 feet. So but she's trying so I'm putting Is there anything in joint if you can put you can pull it? No doubt about it.

Yeah, definitely. And can you educate us about the recruiting process?

Um, yeah. So what I do I go to junior golf tournaments, they give you a sheet and they see they'll say if they're committed or if they're not committed. If they're committed, I don't watch him. But I'll go to the driving range. I'll look at swing see if I see anything I like I talked to people try to get inside information on people. Fortunately, being here in Southern California, we have so many golfers here, so I don't have to go to Texas, Florida, to Europe to Asia. I don't have to do that just because they're here if I'm at a different school in the middle of I don't know. Let me think of one wow. Emmy winner there's not much Jr at all then you have yet to could be creative and probably, you know, recruit off the internet, you know, talk, make some relationships with IMG Academy and all that stuff. But unfortunately here we got the future champions. We have ajga events come down here, Southern California. I don't have to leave really? Yeah, I mean my whole team right now is San Diego Palm Desert LA. Oh, that's so it's pretty good.

Yeah, California is definitely really strong.

Yeah, yeah, that's why I seen Diego. Our golf program was so bad and our athletic director couldn't understand it.

What time do you start like looking at players?

Probably like, like, like, right now I'm looking at 2023 20 I'm looking at 2022. But this pandemic has caused a really backlog and all this because of people staying on another year. So, like, right now, I like Ryan Podolski is my 2022. But then, looking at 2020 threes right now. I mean, I can't talk to him. I can't do anything. I have kids send me emails, but I'm not. I'm not even close to 2024 right now. So. Yeah, so I'm on 2020 threes.

Okay, so you just look at them in sophomore year, sort of. Yeah.

Because a lot can happen in your last two years. Like how good you can get and you know, my daughter, she's playing with a couple of girls that once they commit, they like stop playing tournaments and stuff like that. I'm like, That makes zero sense to me like that would motivate you to play more tournaments and get better.

Yeah.

But I don't know.

And you played on the PGA Tour. So obviously, you've experienced a lot of pressure. What were some of the techniques you use to calm yourself down?

My caddy was really funny. I like to laugh. I used to joke with my caddy. I'm like, Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous right now. I can't even swallow. And he's like, he'll drink some water. Or we would make fun of it. We think it's funny, like, you know, to get nervous out there. But the thing that you really need to always think about is your routine. If you're in your routine, just do your routine. I used to have Swing Thoughts of like, hold my finish and just watch the ball. Like simple stuff. I'm sure your swing is good. And another thing like just keep good balance. It's I mean, everybody gets nervous. I love getting nervous. The more nervous the better. I love it. Because that means you're doing really well. If you're not nervous, that means you don't care. And it's you're probably you're probably not doing that good.

Ah, that makes sense. And how did you like get to where you were

putting in my putting my attitude?

Yeah, would you definitely say that it was your mental game that was strong?

For sure. 100%

Yeah. And what drills did you use and suggest players to use?

Like I was telling you earlier, three footers 100 a day, staying on the putting green all day. Not all day. But yeah, way more than way more than the driving range. But yeah, I mean, drills, drills. I mean, drills are easy. Like I could give you 100 different drills. I mean, you you know, there's not a specific drill that gets you out there, but just doing a couple of your favorite drills. I mean, I don't know, I stick. I stick clubs down sometimes and mess around with those kinds of drills. I'm weird, though. I like to practice like, like, I love it. Like some kids don't like it. I love it. I think practicing is fun. That's why when I get to tournaments, the time to work on your game is practice. And then when you get to tournament, you get to show it off. So yeah,

Yeah, that's nice. And how many hours do you suggest players to practice for?

It all depends. I mean, I think it's, I think it's quality over quantity. I mean, I think if you go out there and you give yourself good two hour practice and you work on putting chipping and hitting, like do that one day for two hours and then the next day don't do it and go play dinos. Like I think playing golf is way better than practicing. I think I think playing and hitting different shots out on the golf course is way better than than practicing every day. So if you're practicing five days a week I'd start playing. I just start playing more. I know golf courses are crowded right Now that you're, you can get into a rhythm on a driving range where you start hitting and good all the time. But when you get on a golf course, it's different. You see? Different, you know, so my answer to that is to play.

Oh, okay, that's, that's a really great answer. I'm gonna start using it.

I like it.

And what tournaments Do you suggest players to play?

For college?

What, like junior golfers?

I mean, I think, I mean, honestly, just anything. I've been playing in LA, Las Vegas, Junior Golf, I think playing in futures champions. ajga. I think, any tournament, any tournament is good. I think I think you just need to play tournaments.

Yeah, I mean, any golf tournament you play in is good. I don't think there's specific tournaments, you have to plan. Now, if you're trying to go to a different if you're trying to gear your sword, to a different school to a certain school. You just shoot emails to your intel, while you're playing it, I get I get 10 emails a day. From kids that want to come play off summer from overseas, I'd say half of them are from overseas, whether it's Asia or whether it's Europe, Spain, you know, and I'm not recruiting those gifts. I just sent an email back saying, hey, sorry, we're, we're done recruiting for a year and best of luck, because I actually want kids that are local, just because. And when I say level, I mean, Texas can be local, just where they can get home and back and forth. You know, they don't you know? Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. How should someone approached the rankings?

I don't look at rankings. I think rankings are overrated. I mean, I have a kid coming in next year that I don't even think He's ranked, but he's a really good player. So he just can't afford to play in tournaments. He doesn't have the money. So I've watched him play several times. And he's really good. So and he's not ranked. But yeah, I don't think I think I think rankings are in junior golf. You just got to play tournament play tournament.

Oh, okay. So your advice would just be play as many tournaments as you can? Play? Yeah, that's great advice. And how much do you think parents should get involved?

That's a great question.

And, you know, I don't know the answer to that. I mean, I feel like I don't know. I mean, that's a that's a question like, How much am I involved with my daughter? It's just depends on the parent and the kid. Like if the if the, if the parent is mean to the kid, or the kid doesn't like their parents around? I think they need to work it out. You know what I mean? If I don't like watching my daughter play tournaments, like it's frustrating to me, and I, you know, I'm not. And at the end of the day, you want to have fun? I don't I mean, that's a great question. But then you look at Tiger Woods, look at what his dad has made him into a superstar. So I don't know. Usually. That's a tough.

That's a tough question.

Yeah. Do you think there should be like boundaries? Or just? Yeah,

I think I think the player. That's really tough. I don't know. I can't even speak on that. I think everybody's situation is different.

The parents pay for the kids stuff to do stuff. The parents want their kid to go to a nice call. Ah, it's just hard. I mean, I mean, I was fortunate my dad didn't really come around much I kind of just took to the love of the game. I don't know. I'm sorry. I didn't. I didn't I can't answer that. Okay. Yeah.

That's a tough question. But you would definitely would you say that? If you want to success you need passion? Or Sure.

Yeah, you want to be there. You don't want to not be there. So and I've seen that before. It's sad when some kids you can just tell they're there for their parents and

it stinks but you know, it is what it is. Yeah. And what's your, I guess,

mindset about golf?

My mindset is to shoot as long as you can, and hopefully the wind blows or rains because I know. I know that does all that Even if it's raining and blowing half the field doesn't even want to be there. So I'll beat half of them. And then the other half. I'll beat them to because I'm a great Potter.

Yeah, that's great. What's your secret sauce of advice for golf and life in general? Have fun.

Yeah, I mean, try to have fun in what you're doing. Be passionate about what you're doing. And just be truthful to yourself and to people around you on what you're really passionate about. And you know, and sometimes people aren't gonna like what you have to say, but the truth, the truth, you know what I mean? Like, my, my 14 year old doesn't get I don't like, I don't want to play golf and play tournaments. And that's fine. You know, even though she has a beautiful swing and stuff like that, but she wants to play soccer and run and do other things. So let's do that.

Yeah, that's good.

Yeah. Okay. Angeline thank you so much.

Thank you so much for coming.

Yeah, yeah, it's good to meet you. Good luck with everything.

Thank you.

Tell Meeks Hi.

Okay. Okay, I will.