I thought of Jordan Spieth when I was putting, when he used to look at his target, he was reacting. That's all he does. He takes a couple quick looks, if you look at his pre-shot routine, a couple quick looks, doesn't stand over it too long, but he's committed and he just reacts to the target.
I've believed in myself since day one.
I think, obviously, there's a bunch of technology with TrackMan, and all of the different launch monitors, that help tell you what is best. But, for me, it's a lot about what is going to come out from that initial window of hitting that ball.
When you step foot into your first professional tournament, everything you've done in your amateur career really doesn't matter any more.
I was huge on basketball and baseball. I love sports. I'm an L.A. guy. I love the Lakers and Dodgers.
I'm trying to win every single week. I'm not trying to come out and just win the majors. I'm 23. This is my first full year.
And I think before I was so focused on speed or I was so focused on trying to hit this great putt that I just wasn't reacting to what I was doing. I react when I hit an iron shot, why can't I do that when I'm over the putter?
The majors are going to be circled in, just like everyone else, but I've got to focus on every single week.
For me, it's the 5- to 7-yard cut with any club. I can choke down on it a little bit, hit it different heights, but that's the shot I'm always going to go to.
I love golf. I love every part of it.
To be out here on the PGA Tour, especially during the summer, is a dream come true. I'm just trying to get to know a lot of the guys out here.
I think one of the hardest times was when I almost won a Web.com tour event in 2016 after my freshman year. I lost in a playoff to Ollie Schniederjans and J.J. Spaun. I mean, who knows what could've happened if I'd won?
I do look at leader boards. I want to know where I'm at.
I think it helps to know where you're at. I don't want to be coming down 18 knowing I need to make par, and trying to force a birdie or doing something stupid.
We actually flattened my putter 1.5 degrees. I have a long-neck putter and it was weird because they flattened it, but it got my hands more vertical and into the position I wanted them to be in.
I actually used TaylorMade in college. And I've been using TaylorMade since I've been about 14 years old when I really started playing as a junior in events.
But, at the end of the day, the things that I already have in my bag, all the TaylorMade clubs, and everything that I know TaylorMade does with their new clubs, and every single year, with the innovation, it's just something I want to be a part of.
But if an iron doesn't work, or if it doesn't feel good, I will switch it out.
I think I've always used a lower-lofted 3-wood, and I've been able to get the ball up. And, for me, I love having the versatility of it in the fairway, as well as off the tee.
It's got to feel good off the face, it's got to look good from on top of the ball. And then, obviously, it's got to perform. But in those iron testings, obviously, I'm just trying to hit the best shots I can.
