Vijay Singh
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[00:00:00] [00:00:05] [00:00:10] Welcome back to the What's Your More Podcast Today? I'm [00:00:15] joined by A PGA Hall of Famer, A PGA. Legend. I'm honored you are sitting here in the studio today, Mr. [00:00:20] Vijay Singh. Thank you for being on the show. Thank you. Yeah, it's great to have you on here today. You know vijay has won [00:00:25] 34 events on the PGA tour, including three major championships, one masters in 2002 [00:00:30] PGA championships in 98 and oh four.
He's the first person of South Asian descent. To win a major [00:00:35] championship. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. He also reached world Number One [00:00:40] rankings in the official world golf rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005, Vijay was [00:00:45] the 12th man to reach the world number one ranking, and was the only New World number one during the 2000 [00:00:50] decades.
Seeing was the leading PGA tour money winner in oh 3, 0 4 and oh eight, and he's [00:00:55] also captured the FedEx Cup in 2008. To say the least. You've done a lot. So [00:01:00] that's, uh, quite a resume and I don't, I think I had to condense it. There's a lot of good stuff on there. So [00:01:05] again, thanks for taking time to, uh, you know, be on our show and, and I know you're in town for a short period of time, [00:01:10] so I appreciate you coming in here.
And, uh, it's again, just an honor to have you on the show today. Good. Nice to be here. [00:01:15] Yeah. So, you know, interestingly enough, I I, I go through all of that. That's a lot to unpack on there, [00:01:20] but one of the things I kinda wanna start with from the very beginning is I, you know, I always wonder, like I see. You guys [00:01:25] on tv and ~obviously~ I always say to my wife and I hear other people say, man, they make it look so easy.
But it started [00:01:30] somewhere, man. So talk to us a little bit like when did you know you wanted to become a pro golfer? Like how does that even start, like we pick up? [00:01:35] I mean, where does it go? How do you do it? Well, my dad was a player, uh, and I had two brothers, [00:01:40] older brothers that played golf as well. And in Fiji where we grew up, uh, there was nothing much to do [00:01:45] either.
Play soccer, play rugby, which is the main sport in Fiji. Mm-hmm. And golf was, [00:01:50] uh, another way of making money for young kids. You got out there caddy. So I did that. And [00:01:55] my, obviously my dad really loved the game and, uh, he taught me how to play [00:02:00] me and my brothers. And, uh. Just took it over from there. That Well, that's fantastic.
Your dad was your [00:02:05] teacher growing up? Pretty much, yeah. Yeah. He didn't really teach me all the angles and all that. He just [00:02:10] said, you know, here's the club and keep your head down and hit it. And, you know, [00:02:15] I, it's just that simple. Yeah. Well I learned most of it by watching, uh, you know, [00:02:20] other, other players.
Uh, we used to have small events, you know, the. Golf Pros [00:02:25] from Australia and New Zealand, they came over and played pro, so, okay. And they had, you know, obviously I took [00:02:30] tips from them and, uh, you know, magazines, we didn't have TV at that time, so, [00:02:35] so that's, uh, that's how I kind of picked it up. Yeah. So, I mean, you almost, I mean, between your [00:02:40] dad reading magazines, watching people, borderline self-taught between you and dad, pretty much, yeah.
In the beginning I was, yeah. Yeah. That's [00:02:45] pretty incredible. Yeah. You know, so, I mean, learning to read The Greens, all of that, all self-taught, well, the Greens were [00:02:50] kind of little. Different in Fiji. I mean, some of the, some, some of the [00:02:55] fairways out here better was better than a greens we played on, you know, so, uh, it, it's, uh, [00:03:00] it's come a long ways from where I actually learned how to play golf.
Uh, but you know, [00:03:05] going up to Australia early in my age, uh, in my career, that was big help. Mm-hmm. And. [00:03:10] I knew from probably when I was 15, 16 that I wanted to be a pro, you know? So, wow. Yeah. [00:03:15] To, wanted to make a living. So someone 15, 16 years old, like, what type of dedication are you [00:03:20] putting into this? I mean, I've, I've read where you are a, I've read and I've heard from people, you are a very [00:03:25] special person when it comes to practicing.
Like a lot of people don't wanna practice. Like, I just wanna play. But you're known for your [00:03:30] practicing. Well, that's the point, because when I was growing up, you know, having no [00:03:35] teacher mm-hmm. You need to learn how to hit the ball and. It's easy to hit the ball, to hit the ball where you [00:03:40] look in and, you know, want where you want the ball to go.
That's the main thing. So the only way for me to [00:03:45] succeed was just to hit balls and, and hit balls, and hit balls and make sure that you know where the [00:03:50] ball ball was going. I had a lot of flows in my golf swing, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, a lot [00:03:55] of you know. If you watch my golf swing when I was growing up, and now it's huge [00:04:00] different because I had no, nobody to actually guide me to what I was doing.
So it's all by [00:04:05] watching and, and actually looking at other people, and that's how I learned. So yeah, I just wanna paint the picture [00:04:10] for our audience. Think about what, what he's saying, what watching my swing, adapting to it. You [00:04:15] didn't have an iPhone where you could record your swing. You didn't have an iPad, you didn't have someone in the background.
So [00:04:20] what, what were you, you would literally try to imitate someone else's swing. Is that what you would do? Yeah. And you [00:04:25] know, I had a brother that always, we practiced together. Mm-hmm. He was two years older than me, [00:04:30] and we kind of watched each other, you know, he had a much better golf swing. You either kind of have a good golf [00:04:35] swing or you don't, you know, and, uh, I don't, by the way, if you, if you, you know, if you look at [00:04:40] Furic, if you look at, uh, Trevino, they had their own.
Kind of golf swing. So they learn how to play with [00:04:45] that golf swing. And I learned how to play with mine. So, you know, and as I got [00:04:50] older, you know, I, I've see, I saw, you know, teachers that, you know, from time to time, [00:04:55] Hey, you know, what's my golf swing? See what you see. And they tell me a few things and I just go and practice.
And, [00:05:00] you know, actually working on, on the range kind of helped me a lot because. If I get [00:05:05] a tip from somebody, I go and make sure that I get it down, you know? Mm-hmm. And you, you can actually [00:05:10] tell if it's a good thing for you or not. You know? A lot of people tell you a lot of stuff. You don't really. [00:05:15] Have to listen to all those stuff and actually, you know, take it in you, you know, you [00:05:20] pick out what you want and throw away the rest.
Yeah, no, I could see that. You know, for me, golf's just, you [00:05:25] know, they always say it's a game of inches, but it's so much to take in, so much data to take in. So someone could say [00:05:30] one thing, throw you off the whole day. Right? I mean, you know. Then was diff uh, different, I mean, you, [00:05:35] you, you kind of listen to people because that's the only way you can actually know what you know, how [00:05:40] to learn.
Mm-hmm. Now, if he tells you something, you can actually tell your, you know, I mean, [00:05:45] right now if I'm in the golf course alone and there's a ball guy there just. You know, picking up balls. I [00:05:50] say, Hey, can you come and take a video of my swing and I can see what I'm doing? You know, then like you [00:05:55] said, it was all feel and you know, finding it in the dirt kind of thing.
So, man, that's [00:06:00] pretty amazing. I, I couldn't imagine. So how many hours do you think, did you practice a day? I've always been [00:06:05] curious. This, when I hear about that, how many times does a pro practice? It kind of varies, really. I mean. [00:06:10] Right now, I mean, over here, you, you hit the balls, you don't really worry about picking it up, [00:06:15] then you have to find balls to hit, right.
You know, I, I, I used to hit some [00:06:20] really crappy balls. I mean, and you have to hit it and then go, go pick it up and, you know, hit, [00:06:25] you know, clean it up and then hit it again. So. You know, a whole, whole day's [00:06:30] workout would not really mean by hitting balls all day. You know, it's, it requires [00:06:35] picking the balls up and you know, if you hit it all over the place, it takes you a long time to pick up the ball.
So yeah. [00:06:40] That counts to party practice. I, yeah. Mean you, I'd go and practice all day. Mm-hmm. You know, I'd have [00:06:45] breakfast, you know, and then just. To eat something and just go and beat balls. And [00:06:50] unless we are playing the golf course, we'll just keep hitting balls. And, you know, you meet friends, [00:06:55] uh, along the way, other pros, you know, and all you do is just beat [00:07:00] balls.
I used to go and when I was in Fiji, I used to go and find balls, you know, and, and. [00:07:05] The good ones you keep as a practice and, uh, you know, have a whole bag full of it. And, [00:07:10] uh, man, I watched that ball so many times. There was no more dimples left on them, [00:07:15] but they're white balls, so you, you've put it out there and hit it, you know?
So that's what, [00:07:20] that's, you know, that's how I got here. Well, that's, uh, that's, uh, definitely not lost art. I mean, you've, [00:07:25] you've put in the time ever as the resume shows, you know, 93, you enter. And you become rookie of the year [00:07:30] in mm-hmm. At the PGA. What was that like entering at that time in 93? I mean, when you [00:07:35] entered in 93, you know, you walk in there, you know, with your, with your, your [00:07:40] background and you're walking into a field here, you know, what was that like?
How intimidated were you? Or were you not intimidated at [00:07:45] all? You're like, let's go do this. Well, I played, you know, I, I turned pro when I was 18. Mm-hmm. You [00:07:50] know, so. And then what was 93? I was probably 27, 28, somewhere [00:07:55] there. Uh, and I played in Asia, I played in Europe. I won tournaments. I had already won tournament, quite [00:08:00] few tournaments in Europe.
Quite few. Yeah, few. So I played in Europe for six years. So, and when I [00:08:05] first came here was 92, uh, played the first tournament, finished second in Bay Hill. So. [00:08:10] I finished second in Bay Hill. I think I finished fourth in Memorial. It was different times. [00:08:15] And then I played two other events, uh, finished seventh and something else, and I [00:08:20] got my tour card.
So that's how I came and, you know, got my full [00:08:25] exemption and played 93 and won in the first year. I mean, it was, um, 93 Rookie of the Year [00:08:30] did pretty darn well about that. Mm-hmm. You know, throughout, throughout your career, I'm sure there are just numerous things that you can go [00:08:35] to, but in that first. Let's say that first five years, like what was the most [00:08:40] thrilling moment of your career?
So be 90, 93 to 98. Like what was that? Well, winning the [00:08:45] first tournament was big for me. Yeah. You know, that, uh, you know, when I turned [00:08:50] pro, my whole intention was to make a living. I mean, you know. [00:08:55] Coming from a Pacific Island, you know, I think you did that. You have to make a living. Yeah. [00:09:00] You know, mission accomplished.
Yeah. I mean, even in, in Australia, a lot of guys, [00:09:05] they just wanna make, make a living out of playing golf. I mean, if you get good enough, obviously there's other [00:09:10] intentions, but my goal was to make a good living. And even when I first came [00:09:15] in. You know, 93, my whole idea or goal was to keep my tour card. [00:09:20] It was first year.
Yeah. Once I got it, I wanna hold onto it. Once you get, yeah. Yeah. So, but when I [00:09:25] won then it kind of opened all the doors. You get three ex then was three years. So then [00:09:30] you're free to play, kind of frees up your game, you know, and, you know, gets your mind [00:09:35] in a little bit of peace. I can see that. Yeah. And then, uh, you just go ho, go ahead [00:09:40] and just play.
And um, from then on it was like, how many tournaments can I win, you know? [00:09:45] And. Practice was all I did. I mean, I just, I was so determined to play well and, you know, to beat [00:09:50] everybody. And that's all I did. Yeah. Just, and that I, I guess that's how my [00:09:55] mindset is, you know, I just go out there and I just don't want anyone to beat me, you know?
So, [00:10:00] and that's internally, that's how I feel. Mm-hmm. You know, and the only way to do that is to be [00:10:05] ready. Yeah. You know, you, you've been known to have a competitor's, just very mindset sometimes where [00:10:10] some people. Made it the mistake or made the misconception that you might be closed off, but it just appears based on this, you're [00:10:15] just so damn focused that you're like, I don't have time for that.
Yeah. I mean, you can be, you [00:10:20] know, very social and that kind of takes away your focus from what you're doing. Mm-hmm. And I would just go and [00:10:25] just practice and don't even want to talk to anybody. You know, I mean, many a times, you [00:10:30] know, and Cass and even my wife, and, you know, we. They'd be yelling at me during a [00:10:35] tournament.
And I, you know, I'm so focused that I don't even really know who's, you don't even acknowledge it there. [00:10:40] So, uh, that's the way I've always been, you know, and I think that's why it became good. Yeah. No, there's not a [00:10:45] doubt. I mean, focus definitely led to the results there. Mm-hmm. So, you know, who would you say was your most [00:10:50] challenging opponent during your career?
Like, who, who, who [00:10:55] a was the most challenging, but also raise your game, like, force you to be at another level? [00:11:00] Well, I had different, uh. Different generations of players. Yeah. You know, I played with [00:11:05] Norman, you know, when I first went to Europe, you know, I had few practice songs with [00:11:10] Jack Nicholas and you know, you kind of look at them and say, wow, I'm playing with Jack Nicholas.
Yeah. You know, so you kind of [00:11:15] learn from that and, and you know, I. He got, you know, Ballesteros [00:11:20] era, you got Nick Faldo's era. Mm-hmm. They're kind of similar. And then, and then you got Tiger's era. You know, [00:11:25] so kind of every, everybody kind of challenged me in a different way. Yeah, yeah. You know, so, but the only [00:11:30] thing was, I mean, Tiger's era was really tough because he was dominant, you know, throughout his career.
[00:11:35] So you, I kind of thought that he was the one to beat all the time, you know, with Phil there as well. [00:11:40] Mm-hmm. And Ernie else was in that, uh, same. Generation. So [00:11:45] those are the guys that I always fought against, you know, and they were good players. I mean, they were tough [00:11:50] players to beat. I mean, especially Tiger.
I mean he was, you know, when he gets his game, right? I mean, you gotta [00:11:55] be on, otherwise you, you're gonna finish second. Well, I tell you what, [00:12:00] uh, I couldn't imagine competing against that field and you know, when, like to your point when Tiger came in, [00:12:05] that wasn't at the beginning of your career. So it's tough.
Would you say it's tougher to battle that [00:12:10] generation when they come in and, you know. They're, they're on their, they're on the, the younger side of their career [00:12:15] and you're in the midst of your career. Is it tougher to keep up with that or is it really doesn't matter at all? Well [00:12:20] then, uh, you know, when I was at my prime, you know, 30, 35 [00:12:25] was when you really played well.
Mm-hmm. You know, those are times like. If you go back and see [00:12:30] when Faldo and Nicholas and all these guys were really playing, well, it was in the thirties, [00:12:35] but when Tiger and few other guys that came ahead after that, you know, it was [00:12:40] kind of like late, late thirties, uh, late twenties, you know, mid twenties now, [00:12:45] shit.
I mean, they, it's twenties, you know? Right. They start to play well, so. It, it, it has [00:12:50] changed the better players coming outta college and they straight away, they're ready to play. So, [00:12:55] uh, you know, generation wise, um, I think it's gone younger where the guys are getting better now. [00:13:00] So would, would you say that's because maybe some kids are growing up now with a club in their hand when they're three years old?
I mean, when you see those [00:13:05] stories about some of these guys, like, like, you know, your, yourself and Tiger, you know, you guys are getting [00:13:10] clubs in your hand younger and you see these, these, these stories about that. But I mean, right now there's generations of kids, right, that are playing the [00:13:15] game and adapting to, well, I mean, they have so much, uh, young.
Golfing, you [00:13:20] know, tournaments. Mm-hmm. You got a, you know, like drive chip and put, all the kids are [00:13:25] just dying to get to Augusta and just to do that, just do that. Yeah. And, and I think the parents are [00:13:30] putting their kids into golf, younger and younger, so USGA have got programs where, you [00:13:35] know, you can go to any club and, and be part of a, to a, a.
[00:13:40] Organization where you, you play golf. Mm-hmm. And, and, and I tried to get my son Cas to, [00:13:45] you know, do that and he was just not interested to go into any kind of, uh, [00:13:50] competition, you know, in his early age. So that's where I think the young kids are getting better now. I [00:13:55] mean, if they, if they're, if they love the game, you know, they just keep at it.
And, um. [00:14:00] You know, going to college, they already know how to play the game. They can just go from college straight [00:14:05] into tournament and not worry about, you know, how they're gonna perform. Yeah. You know, in 20, 25 years ago that didn't exist. No, [00:14:10] no, no. That type of platform didn't exist. You know, the thing about golf that, that I've noticed with my son, I put a club in his [00:14:15] hand when he was sub five years old.
Mm-hmm. And we played in a couple tournaments when he was six, seven. [00:14:20] Such a mental game for them too, at that age. Right. You know? Well, the competition's [00:14:25] so early now. Sure. So, yeah. I mean, and they play, gosh, I mean, they play every, [00:14:30] every two weeks. There's a tournament for them, right. From the very early age, from 10, 11, 12, you know, [00:14:35] and they fight against their own, uh, age group.
Yeah. You know, so. And, and once they get into [00:14:40] high school and colleges, they, there's always a competition for them. Right. That's how they become [00:14:45] better. And that's how their mindset is. And it's all competition. So, and you know, and even at that age, I'll tell you [00:14:50] this, they don't hold back in, in golf. Like, you know, you see like soccer and you see baseball, [00:14:55] right?
E everybody gets the trophy at the end of the season. It isn't like that in those leagues you're referring to. They, they place [00:15:00] you first, second, third, fourth. Absolutely. If you're fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, you're on the outside looking in. Plus, I mean, they got a [00:15:05] lot of, uh. They can, they can watch golf anytime they want now.
Mm-hmm. [00:15:10] I mean, they can watch it in their iPhones, you know, and. And also also I [00:15:15] think the most important thing is they got very good coaches right now. You know, whenever [00:15:20] they, I mean, every kid has got a coach, right? It doesn't matter how old you are. You, you, you know, go and see a [00:15:25] club pro or approach or at a course, and they have good teaching.
You know, they have [00:15:30] good, uh, stable teaching. They get good foundation earlier on, and then they take it up from [00:15:35] there. Well, and they got the. They got access to anything right now. Right, right. So, you know, that kinda leads me to my next question, [00:15:40] technology in the game. Right. You know, what, what are your thoughts on the technology now [00:15:45] versus your 93 rookie year?
What's the, what is that club? What is, what are the clubs jam? Well, [00:15:50] I mean, I grew up playing with wooden drivers. You know, I, I grew up playing with B lot [00:15:55] balls that, you know, I mean, you put a wooden driver and a ball ball in a college kid now, I [00:16:00] mean, they have to really learn how to play the game again.
Mm-hmm. I mean, it's, I just [00:16:05] hope that. You know, they get. The ball a little bit back and, you know, make the [00:16:10] drivers a little smaller where, you know, like the early ages of, of the, of the [00:16:15] metal woods. Mm-hmm. You know, the tailormade that came up with the metal woods, they were really small. I [00:16:20] was actually yesterday in my gym and I was looking at one of the Callaway three woods.
I mean, they look so [00:16:25] tiny. Mm-hmm. I mean, it's, you know, even the five woods and seven woods are, you know, bigger than [00:16:30] that. Right. So. You know, that's why the kids are better now too. I mean, they go up there and they have a [00:16:35] driver that has a head that is, you know, four 60, you know, ccs and they can just [00:16:40] hit it.
They cannot miss the ball. Right. It's gonna go somewhere. Right. So I think the equipment has made a [00:16:45] big difference and nowadays the game of golf is different. Mm-hmm. Uh, you know, I was just [00:16:50] watching the us the US Open and the, and guys are shooting 60 twos on a golf course. That's supposed to be [00:16:55] hard. But the fairways are wider and, and the ball just goes further.
So no matter how [00:17:00] long you make the golf course, the guys are just gonna hit it further. Yeah. You know, so you gotta, you gotta [00:17:05] tighten the golf course or do things to the golf course that take, takes their driver out of their [00:17:10] hands, you know? I mean, if you miss a fairway, you gotta be penalized right now.
They don't care. They just [00:17:15] bomb it up there. And you know, I'm hitting the ball as long as I did in my heyday right now, and I'm [00:17:20] 60 years old. So that should tell you something at the club. Yeah. Yeah. And it's, uh, it's all about equipment. [00:17:25] So, you know. Do you think they're, um, do you think they're basically [00:17:30] sculpting the course for TV ratings?
Not really. Doing that. I think they [00:17:35] just don't want guys to make bogey and mm-hmm. You know, and pause, you know, they [00:17:40] just, they just want excitement. Right. I mean, like, look at Augusta for once, you know, I [00:17:45] mean, on Sundays they just want guys to make birdies. And I mean, if you are one or two shot [00:17:50] ahead in Augusta, you, you're not a guaranteed winner.
Not you, you gotta bring it on on, on [00:17:55] Sundays. So that's what they, they want, they want excitement. People doesn't wanna sit in their chair at [00:18:00] home, watch guys making bogies and, you know, doubles, so. Right. They want birdies and eagles and that's, [00:18:05] that's all entertainment now. Yeah, it is. Yeah. So it really is.
And so do you think not only the [00:18:10] club, but are, are, is the ball drastically different too with technology on that? Oh yeah. I mean, I, I found [00:18:15] I was hitting balls, um, probably beginning of the year at home [00:18:20] and I found some professional balls. Professional tightly [00:18:25] that I, that was 95, 96. Okay. And I must have had [00:18:30] 10 dozens of it.
So I took it out and I said, I'm gonna hit it. So [00:18:35] the ball, I was measuring ball speed and my ball speed with, with a, with a good, uh, tailormade ball [00:18:40] was, you know, if I really go at it, I was getting it to 1 [00:18:45] 76, uh, ball speed. Damn. 1 75, you know. And then I put, took [00:18:50] the professional tireless out and it was 1 52, 1 53.
So [00:18:55] that, that I should tell you, I mean that's, that's a huge difference. Significant, yeah. Yeah. Um, and [00:19:00] granted the balls were old. I mean, I may have made it to one 60, [00:19:05] but one 60 to 1 76. I mean, still difference. That's a huge difference. That's, [00:19:10] that's 20 yards, 25 yards in, in, in Kerry. So. You know, that's, [00:19:15] that's a big difference.
I mean, the golf courses are way longer now than when we played it. Mm-hmm. And [00:19:20] that's because of the equipment, so, yeah. No, that makes sense. And the guys are stronger. Yeah. You know, the guys are, [00:19:25] you know, huge. I mean, they're not, they're not skinny little guys anymore. Or two guys maybe. Yeah. But they [00:19:30] all work out.
I mean, working out, when I was growing up, working out doing weights [00:19:35] was, it was like taboo. Mm-hmm. For golfers. Mm-hmm. You know, you, you weight, you lift weights, you're not gonna [00:19:40] have any field left. That's what they told us, you know, but I worked out, lucky [00:19:45] enough, I was working out from a very early age, and I just thought that, you know, to get, [00:19:50] to hit the ball far to get strong, you, you need to be a strong person.
So, yeah. You know, you're [00:19:55] right. You do see, like the, the, the specimen of golfer has changed now. I mean, in their physique, they're [00:20:00] Oh yeah. They're all physically fit and, and yeah, and big, they're big. Humongous. Yeah. Yeah. [00:20:05] I mean, humongous, so. I was watching Rory hit the ball. I mean, he, he looked so strong.[00:20:10]
And Ca Bruce Kaka and Dustin Johnson and, you know, all these guys, they, they bomb [00:20:15] it. Yeah. They really, and you don't realize how big they are till you see him in person. Oh, yeah. And you're like, holy cow. These are, [00:20:20] these are huge. I mean, look at Tiger. When he first came on, he was skinny little dude. Skinny dude.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. And then, you know, he [00:20:25] is 2, 3, 4 years later. I mean, he was like a running back, you know? [00:20:30] Oh, that's so true. Yeah. So, uh, you know, wanted to ask you this. I, I think this [00:20:35] is, you know, when I first. Structured this agenda. One of the things I was gonna ask you was, [00:20:40] do you ever think LIV and PGA would coexist?
And then here we are today. [00:20:45] Here we are today, man, Monahan, you know, has, has merged these two [00:20:50] organizations together. You know, what's your, what's your first take on that? Well, it's not merged yet. I mean, they, [00:20:55] they, they, they true. They, they, they talking. Right. You know, they said they're gonna be a partnership, so we don't [00:21:00] really know what the, what the real.
Deal is all gonna be about. [00:21:05] Um, I think I, I feel really sad [00:21:10] in one way. Uh, for the players that didn't go. Oh, I [00:21:15] completely agree. You know, they, they lost all these opportunities to make a lot of money, you know, [00:21:20] because they were really true to the tour. Mm-hmm. You know, they were faithful. They, they [00:21:25] believed in the tour and all of a sudden it just flipped.
Ah. I mean, it makes [00:21:30] you sick to seven Cam Smith looks like the smartest dude in the room right now. I know. Yeah. You know, and. [00:21:35] Phil Mickelson for that matter. Sure. And Bryson December. I mean, they made an kept good [00:21:40] list, goes on and on. And, um, and I, I, I don't feel bad for anybody, but I just [00:21:45] feel bad for the guys that did not go, you know, had opportunities to go.
But it's, [00:21:50] it just blew everybody's mind away. I mean, this, this, uh, what they did, you [00:21:55] know, day after nobody knew what was gonna happen. Mm-hmm. But there was a lot of things involved in it. I think, you [00:22:00] know, I think, uh, the PGA tour. Uh, they were pressured [00:22:05] 'cause they had already spent a whole lot of money in, in lawyers in legal [00:22:10] fees.
Legal fees. Yeah. And, uh, and it was gonna go on and on and on because the, [00:22:15] the Saudis were not gonna back off. Well, no. They had $4 trillion to work with. Yeah. And they, you know, they were [00:22:20] just gonna fight in until, you know, I, I heard from some source [00:22:25] that they were gonna go on until the PGA tour was gonna go broke.
Yeah. Yeah. And they had the money [00:22:30] torun that, and it was very close to doing that. I mean, they spent over a million, a hundred million dollars in [00:22:35] purses to raise their purses, just to make it attractive because of the lift tour. [00:22:40] They spent over a hundred million dollars in legal fees. And that's a lot of money.
A lot. And you know, [00:22:45] so, and if they were gonna keep doing that, they were gonna, you know, imagine [00:22:50] PGA tour going broke. Right. And I think their hand was, uh. Pushed a [00:22:55] little bit too. 'cause they, if they did not do that, you know, one, [00:23:00] they were gonna lose the tour. And then what was gonna happen to the players.
And [00:23:05] then the, another thing was, it was, uh, time to have, uh, I think it was [00:23:10] very close for discovery time. Mm-hmm. For the both, uh, councils and. [00:23:15] The PGA two was not gonna show their books to anybody. And the Saudis, obviously, [00:23:20] they were not gonna show the books to nobody. Right. You know, especially the Americans, you know?
Absolutely. [00:23:25] And, uh, I think it was pressured by the government as well. I think that's my opinion. I had few [00:23:30] rumors as well. Mm-hmm. That they were, you know, they wanted some kind of a solution. Yeah. And, and you know, [00:23:35] it also got rid of the whole monopoly antitrust situation that was going on out there as well.
And I think, uh, [00:23:40] you know, I. Monahans ha uh, cards were already dealt. Yeah. He, [00:23:45] he, he was not gonna win with that. And I, if he, he had no, I, I don't think end of the day he did not [00:23:50] have a choice. And it obviously, it's sad that, you know, it came out like that. I don't think [00:23:55] any, any. Player on, on tour right now really believes and trusts him.
Mm-hmm. You know, [00:24:00] and, and you know, I don't, I don't blame him from getting some kind of an anxiety attack [00:24:05] right now, or he's, I think he's medically Yep. You know, kind of has like what [00:24:10] Urban Meyer had there a little bit. That anxiety, that stress level. Yeah. Stress level must be, you know, I don't know what, [00:24:15] what he's got.
Hopefully it's, it's not too bad, you know, and they come out of it. Okay. [00:24:20] So, you know, what does that say? Like for, for someone like Monaghan, you know, obviously this is probably adding to the [00:24:25] stress, but I mean, he said some pretty bad stuff about LIV and I mean, granted, he's [00:24:30] saying, oh, that's the information that was delivered to me at that time.
Yeah. But I mean, some of that stuff, there's no coming back from [00:24:35] it. I, I think he was true to himself by saying that I, he believed in it. You know, [00:24:40] he, he was totally against the LIV and a lot of players were, and like I said, he [00:24:45] was, he had no choice but to make this, uh. Merger, which, whichever way you call [00:24:50] it, I think he had no choice.
I mean, but you know, [00:24:55] he did not go to the meeting and explain to the guys, sorry, you know, this has [00:25:00] happened. I was, I had no choice. Right. But I think he went to the meeting saying, [00:25:05] explaining himself why he did, you know, he was trying to [00:25:10] be the head huncho there and instead of saying, Hey, listen, I had no choice.
Yeah. I'm trying to [00:25:15] save you. Um, yeah, exactly. And he did not tell. Tell the right [00:25:20] stuff. Yeah. From what I heard. Yeah. And that backlashed on him pretty badly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So, I mean, do you think there's a lot of fear, I [00:25:25] mean, obviously there's a lot of fear of those players that, that, that had that backlash because now they're playing on the tour.[00:25:30]
Right. And there's a, how does that go if these other players take their spot? Like how do they maintain this spot? I don't know [00:25:35] what the, what the thing will be. I am, I'm sure the guys that did not go as are gonna [00:25:40] get, uh, you know, compensated financially. Um, you know, a few [00:25:45] guys, you know, some of the guys were gonna be paid like Matsu yamo, although he is not [00:25:50] American, but he was gonna be paid close to, you know, three, 400,000, a million dollars.
Wow. That's a lot of [00:25:55] money. Yeah. And, you know, a few other guys were gonna be paid, paid a lot, and they said no, they were true [00:26:00] to their award and they were gonna, they gonna get compensated from what I heard. Gotcha. [00:26:05] Yeah. And, uh. So, you know, it's, it's gonna be [00:26:10] okay. I, I think, I think this is good for, for the game.
It's going to make the competition [00:26:15] better. It's gonna get the, get every side together now, you know? Yeah. Uh, you know, [00:26:20] one thing I don't understand is why the tour was so much against it. Instead of [00:26:25] working with them in, instead of just, you know. Fighting. Totally agreed. Yeah. [00:26:30] And you know, it's like opening a new burger joint next to McDonald's.
I [00:26:35] mean, why, why can't anybody do that? Right. You know, this is America. You're supposed to do whatever, you know, [00:26:40] as long as you don't break the rules. They didn't break any rules, you know, the only [00:26:45] thing they did was they paid players to come and yeah, they poach players with higher money. So that's. That's [00:26:50] what the sad thing was, but they, otherwise the players would not have gone.
So, yeah. You know, the, they always say [00:26:55] competition breeds success. Right. So that's all that was. You know, what, what do, what do you think about the, [00:27:00] how can I say this? What do you think about the, the, the, not the sanctions, but [00:27:05] let's call it sanctions that mon imposed on some of these players? Like, I mean, we live here in [00:27:10] Jacksonville, Florida.
Mm-hmm. It's clear if you go to the TPC and you go to the clubhouse. There's no sign of Cam Smith [00:27:15] in the clubhouse. Right, right, right. Like, I mean, was that a little too much? That that was that, that that was too much? Yes. Yeah. I mean that's [00:27:20] what I mean. He was so against the lift tour from the beginning, and I don't blame him.
He was supporting the [00:27:25] players and a lot of players were against it too. But you know, that's doing that [00:27:30] was, you know, it was sad. Mm-hmm. The only thing that was flying was, um, the Australian flag. You know, the rest of it [00:27:35] was out. I mean, yeah. But he still won the tournament. Right. And there's no sign of him there.
[00:27:40] And, and from what I heard also that they, the guys that are gonna come back are gonna get [00:27:45] fined heavily. Really? Yeah. Okay. So they have to, you know, I don't know what the fine's gonna be. It's not [00:27:50] gonna be one or $2,000, that's for sure. Yeah. And, you know, which is, which is [00:27:55] sad. I, you know, and, and one hand will be the only guy that's gonna say yes if you can come back, or no, [00:28:00] you cannot.
Which is another, you know. Lawsuit or [00:28:05] waiting to happen, you know, why wouldn't, if, if the two are all together, why, why should, why wouldn't everybody get an [00:28:10] automatic opportunity? You know? Was is the solution? Just make 'em all requalify. I [00:28:15] don't know what the procedure is gonna be. Um, they have to, you know, [00:28:20] how can it not?
Have Bruce Kaka playing, I just want Right. You know, [00:28:25] just won, just won the, the championship for PGA championship, PGA championship. So he second in the Masters. [00:28:30] Right. Second. And he is, that already qualifies into play. Mm-hmm. So, I mean, that's [00:28:35] the, that's the rule that says that if you win the PGA, you're gonna be exempt for [00:28:40] five years, you know?
Right. So I don't know how they're gonna do that. Yeah. Um, I have no idea. [00:28:45] They must have a plan. And hopefully every everything's gonna be worked out. So what do you think [00:28:50] happens to Greg Norman? I think he's gonna stay on until this year and then leave. Yeah. [00:28:55] Um, I don't think he works with the tour very well.[00:29:00]
What gives you that impression? Uh, I mean, you know, from, from the very early, [00:29:05] uh, ages, going back 20 years, he was the one that wanted a world tour. Mm-hmm. [00:29:10] And, you know, then we got those world championships, not because the [00:29:15] tour wanted it, you know, they thought about the idea and it came from Greg, you know.
And he has, [00:29:20] he has some great ideas, but I don't think he went about the right way to do it, you know? Or the tour did not want to [00:29:25] talk to him for some reason. Right. So, I mean, if they had talked to Greg from beginning, [00:29:30] or Greg had gone to them, I think he did try, but you know, they. You [00:29:35] know, there, there must be some kind of a friction between Greg and the tour.
You know, that's been going [00:29:40] on for a while, so Yeah, it's, I think there's a, a long history of that. Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, you know, a lot of disdain taste. Mm-hmm. [00:29:45] Amongst one party, amongst the other. So of all the courses you played, what was your favorite one? [00:29:50] You know, pebble is one of my best. Uh, you know, it's [00:29:55] tough.
It, it's the, the location of it, but the views that when on a, on a [00:30:00] fine day, you cannot beat Pebble. I mean, it's, you, you know, go up the, go up the hill [00:30:05] on, on, on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. I mean, it's just like, wow. You, you are in [00:30:10] a different world. Yeah. So that, that, that's probably one of my favorite ones. And then obviously [00:30:15] the masters, you know, Augusta is.
It is nothing like Augusta. I mean, [00:30:20] you can go and play there when there's not a tournament, but if you arrive there during the tournament, it's a [00:30:25] different golf course. I mean, it's. I mean, even the pine cones are placed them perfectly. I [00:30:30] mean, nothing's out of place. You know, I mean, you say, Hey, did they actually put the pine cone there, [00:30:35] or was it, you know, did they actually fall there?
It's, everything is just so [00:30:40] pristine, you know? I mean, just perfect. So I believe that Jim Nance recreated. A hole from the Masters [00:30:45] in his backyard. Have you seen him do, have you seen that? No, I have not. I saw, uh, on Peyton's place. Mm-hmm. He [00:30:50] traveled to Jim N's house. Right. And he and Tom Brady shot a par three from N's backyard where he [00:30:55] recreated one of the par threes.
Par three. Yeah. And I mean, literally to a t to the Pine cos and everything. It's sitting out [00:31:00] there like that. He would know because he is been there for, for quite some time. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, they talk about, [00:31:05] uh, I think in the, the series full swing, how when players show up, they're superstitious, uh, at the [00:31:10] Masters about their number.
Were you a superstitious person when you played? Well, I, when I [00:31:15] won, I got 19. The, my, my money clip was 19, [00:31:20] still remember it. And Cass's birthdate was 19th, you know, so, and all the balls that I [00:31:25] play with right now are 19, you know? Alright. So they, so that's my favorite [00:31:30] number. Okay. So, you know, and I always look for it this year.
I missed it by, I think [00:31:35] I was, I was 18, I think, you know, and, and, uh, I wanted 19 again, but it didn't [00:31:40] happen. But, uh, yeah, I mean, and also. You know, marking the ball on, [00:31:45] on the greens. You know, you, you either put it on heads or tails or you have a special coin that you market all [00:31:50] the time. A lot of players have their own coins, you know, that they've used forever and ever.
So, [00:31:55] and I just mark with a core and make sure that, you know, it's a good, good number. I. [00:32:00] It's, the date on it is good. You know, it's either 64 or 65 or [00:32:05] something like that. You know, if I see one that is a 79 or an 80 I'D I throw away. Yeah. Don't want that one. Heat that [00:32:10] away. Heat that away from me. So you and you and cas, speaking of cas, you guys [00:32:15] just recently won the PNC mm-hmm.
Golf tournament. It, congratulations on that. What is it like playing with your son on a [00:32:20] tournament like that and going out there and winning that competition in a field that was. Pretty darn, pretty darn good. Well, we [00:32:25] played for the first time, I think we played, he was 13 and you know, I got him, I got him back playing [00:32:30] again.
But, uh, we tried for 16 years, you know, we did everything. We finished second, third, fourth, [00:32:35] fifth, sixth, but never won. Came close to a few times, but uh, [00:32:40] uh, but last year was fun. Um. You know, I was playing pretty good and he [00:32:45] actually played really well. Um, he putted on unbelievably so for him [00:32:50] to do that and, and you know, he hit two of the best shots I've seen anybody [00:32:55] hit on three and 14.
And, you know, that was, that was incredible. You know, [00:33:00] and, uh, I was, it, it's, you know, father and son is a very unique tournament. Mm-hmm. It's, [00:33:05] uh, actually it's not father and son anymore. It's, you know, I dunno what they call it. Father and [00:33:10] sibling, BNC. Right, right. Uh, to spend time with Cas. I mean, [00:33:15] you know, when he's, any kid that is 14, 15, 16, they don't wanna spend more [00:33:20] than an hour with their, with their dad, you know?
But I'm living it right now. He, he's forced to [00:33:25] spend three, four days with me. I mean, we do everything together. We play practice [00:33:30] round together. So he would never do that otherwise. So a lot of fathers out there and, and you [00:33:35] know, that have their kids playing with them. They just love it. I mean, because it [00:33:40] gets, you know, you, you kind of bond in a different way, you know, so that was good.
Yeah, no, I agree with you. That's [00:33:45] awesome. Anytime I get a chance to get out on the green with my son, it's always a, a fun time and. Definitely embrace [00:33:50] that. Right? And then you learn, you know, you, you know, even if you, if if ca if my son, I mean [00:33:55] he, he learn the way I think on the golf course differently then, you know, and then we, we treat them [00:34:00] differently as well.
I mean, you know, competition is competition. So they know how, how we think. [00:34:05] Then, you know, it's not just going out there and just having a round of golf, you know, if I think they [00:34:10] actually learn how we think as well. So, which is good. Yeah, that's great to be able to pass that down. You know, one of the, [00:34:15] one of the final questions as I wrap this up here, you know.
When you put on that green jacket, [00:34:20] how, like, was that a, was that a, a vindicating moment for you? Like how did that [00:34:25] feel? I mean, you'd already won so much. Yeah, but we're talking to masters. You just said it, there's no place like the Masters, right? Like what, what [00:34:30] did that, was that like a weight lifted off your shoulder like, I finally did it, or, you know, what was the feeling when you got that?
Oh, [00:34:35] it's, I had to say, you know, I mean it's, uh, I gotta think back and try to remember what happened, but, [00:34:40] uh, you know, you get, you are, you are so excited. You're overwhelmed with everything. You know, the, the [00:34:45] excitement kind of. It blurs your mind a lot, you know, and I, I think [00:34:50] at that moment it was, it was the most, you know, most [00:34:55] exciting thing you've ever done in your life.
You know, no matter what it is, because I. In front [00:35:00] of everybody. You know, you, you, putting on the green jacket is fine, but to know that you [00:35:05] are actually putting on the green jacket and that's yours and it's never gonna be taken away. [00:35:10] That's, uh, I think a feeling that I, it's hard to describe. It's just, uh, [00:35:15] satisfaction.
I think, you know, it's self-satisfaction, you know, that I've done it, you know? Yeah. Like a [00:35:20] level of completeness, like, I've arrived. Right. I gotta ask you a question. It drives me nuts every time. How did the damn jacket fit? Like, how [00:35:25] did they make that fit on you? How did they, they get it to look like it because not all golfers are built the same Well.
They have [00:35:30] so many of those jackets, so many of members there that have different [00:35:35] sizes and different weights and different, you know, so they're gonna pick out a, a member that is your [00:35:40] height and Yeah, they'll borrow one someone. They're gonna find one. Okay. That makes a little more sense. Yeah. And then, you know, [00:35:45] you get to keep the jacket for a year.
Okay. Which is good. And now you take it home and then you have to give [00:35:50] it back to them. Really? You don't get to keep the jacket. No. And it's, uh. It's always in the locker room. [00:35:55] Okay. Yeah. So whenever, whenever I go there, you know, if I went there socially, I have to [00:36:00] put the jacket on and go around the golf, uh, clubhouse.
So, okay. I went there in a cocktail one year [00:36:05] after I had won and I had my own jacket on and you know, it was a [00:36:10] cocktail on a Wednesday of the masters. So I was kind of mingling with the crowds and [00:36:15] the guys came up to me and says, uh, we need to talk to you. And I said, [00:36:20] sure. So I went inside and they said, you need to change your jacket.
So I had to [00:36:25] put the green jacket on, you know, so, which is fine, you know? Yeah. But, uh, you're like, I've been looking for it. You hadn't [00:36:30] locked up. Otherwise, I'd have put it on when I got here, but, you know, it was in my lockers. But, [00:36:35] uh, but that's, uh, that's fun, you know? Uh, now is that one of the only, that's the only one of the [00:36:40] only, I guess.
Golf championships, you win that you have to give back the trophy of [00:36:45] some sort. Like is there another one that's like that or is that the No, all, all the tournaments you keep, get to keep it for a [00:36:50] year. Okay. Yeah. And uh, you, I. I think the Masters do not have, they [00:36:55] have a trophy that, which is so huge, but they have a little one that you can take back at Ruper Club.
Mm-hmm. Of [00:37:00] the main cup. And I have that at home. Okay. Yeah. But, uh, the us, the PGA, the huge [00:37:05] cup they have, I had to keep that for a year and then give it back. And give it back. Yeah. Wow. I think the [00:37:10] British and the US Open has the same thing, so, wow. Man, that's a, that's a funny [00:37:15] story about the jacket. I never knew that.
I was always wondering, I'm like, how the hell did they get that? They just tailor that thing in 24 hours. No, no. They, [00:37:20] they, they've got so many of those, you know, so, oh, let's you just borrow one from somebody else. So.~ Well, you know, it's mentioning that, uh, you know, we're on Father's Day weekend, so Happy Father's Day, by the way.~
~You too. Thanks for joining us on the podcast and, you know, sharing some of your stories, a portion of your career. Uh,~ it's an honor to have [00:37:25] you on here and you know, the biggest takeaway I took away from today was, you know, it doesn't matter whether you're a golfer. It doesn't [00:37:30] matter whether you're a business person, you're in sales.
That practice, that practice is something [00:37:35] that not everybody wants to embrace as part of the success. You clearly did that. You've had a [00:37:40] wonderful career and, uh, and it showed up in so many different ways. Right. And again, I can't thank you enough for being on the show today. [00:37:45] No problem. Last question. Yeah, last question.
I'm gonna leave you with what's the one more [00:37:50] course? If you had a chance to play it, you'd wanna go play it again? I played again. [00:37:55] Wow. I'd like to go back and play my own golf course in really the way [00:38:00] I, the way, the way I grew up on it. Yeah. You know, I went back there quite a few times, but [00:38:05] it's, it's, it's a trash course right now.
Nobody takes care of it. I would like to go back and [00:38:10] play the golf course that I actually grew up on. You know, that that is one. And [00:38:15] obviously my last game of golf I would like to play in Pebble. I think, you know, there you go. Yeah. That's, [00:38:20] that's one golf course that, that is above everybody. Everyone else.
Yeah. Well, maybe [00:38:25] one day I'll get a chance to get out there and kind of see what you're talking about here. Yeah, you, you would love it. I mean it's go on a good weather [00:38:30] though. Okay. I'll make note of that. It could get cold there. I'll make note of that. Well guys, if you like what you're hearing, [00:38:35] five star of the podcast, please leave a review.
Check us out on Apple, Google, Spotify, and Amazon. And then also check [00:38:40] us out on YouTube and subscribe to our channel. Leave the comments. We love them. It helps us make the next show and check us out on [00:38:45] our social at what your One more with the number one. Vijay Honor, thank you for having me on the show today.
Appreciate it and [00:38:50] good to be here. Thanks. I got one more. I'm gonna make it [00:38:55] one more chance. [00:39:00] [00:39:05] [00:39:10] [00:39:15] [00:39:20] [00:39:25] I'm.
