Scots boy takes on the world
A question I get asked a lot over here is "how did a boy from Scotland end up living and playing golf in America?"
I should have a short answer by now, but I really don't. I'm happy with how it has all worked out, but it certainly was not planned in advance.
I always wanted to come over and try the US college golf route, but I had no idea when I came over as a 17-year-old that I wouldn't leave again for a while and would end up making Scottsdale, Arizona, my home away from home.
Getting through to final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school at my first attempt out of university turned out to be the deciding factor for the path that my career would take from then on.
It gave me a place to play, on the Nationwide Tour, and time to settle down in the US and set about my goal - to make it to the PGA Tour.
After a couple of years on the Nationwide Tour (and a lot of hard work), I had learned a lot and improved enough to make it to where I had always wanted to play, among the top players in the world.
I don't know exactly what the attraction was with America, but I remember as a kid watching the US golf on Sunday nights and always thinking 'I want to play in these tournaments someday'.
It's probably got something to do with the warm sunny days.
Winning last year has taken a lot of pressure off me, but I have also added pressure to myself as now my goals are higher than they were this time last year.
My game is now at the stage where I am really comfortable playing on the PGA Tour and feel like, at any time, I can compete with anyone.
I always imagined, after I won, I would take a huge break and really celebrate and ride it out as long as I could, but it never really worked out like that.
Things definitely got a lot busier and new opportunities have arisen that I want to take full advantage of.
So I ended up having a shorter off-season and practicing harder in December than I ever have before, a little backwards many people have told me.
One short-term goal that has come up for the next three weeks is to play good enough to move into the top 64 in the world rankings and gain a place in the Accenture World Match-play Championship.
This is one event on the schedule, I will admit, I have never looked at before with a view to being there.
But now that I have broken into the top 100 in the world, this tournament is definitely on the radar and hopefully a good showing this week in the desert will get me headed in the right direction.
It's supposed to rain, so I'm sure I'll hear on multiple occasions the one phrase that I always get when it does: "You should do well this week, its just like Scotland."
I hope they are right.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~50~RS~)
I was born and bred in Glasgow, but now I live in Scottsdale, Arizona, and make my living on the US PGA Tour.
I won my maiden Tour event in October 2009 - the first Scot to do so on US soil since Sandy Lyle won the Masters in 1988.
I want to win again and play in this year's Ryder Cup, so I'll be letting you know how I'm going about it, as well as providing you a behind the scenes look at the PGA Tour.
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Hi Martin,
Good blog ... I look forward to reading all about your exploits this year.
In particular, I hope to read about your daily life on the tour, what you do during a tournament week and who you have with you / who you hang around with. I'd also like to know how you go about planning your schedule and what factors you consider when choosing to play in particular tournaments.
Best of luck !
Gordon.
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Hi Martin,
I've been following your career for the last couple of years and have been please to see you making steady progress, it was great to see you getting your first (of many i hope !) wins last year and i look foreward to your blogs on life on the PGA tour, good luck for 2010 !
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Martin
Great blog and good luck to you. I'm interested to learn about professionals, endorsements and their equipment. As I understand it the majority get paid big bucks to use equipment and that it is often materially different to what we the public get. For instance Tigers web site claims he uses "Scotty Cameron by Titleist Studio Stainless Newport 2 putter (standard loft and lie, 35 inches long)". Most people know Scotty Camerons have a load of loft and that most tour players alter the loft lie etc.
What changes do you make to your clubs?
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Hi Martin
Good blog and like the rest look forward to your exploits in the future. One thing on this, the Ryder Cup! Any expectations for this year? What tournaments do you plan to play on the European Tour?
Anyhow its great to see the wee saltire flying proudly amongst and on top of, all those stars and stripes on the leader board.
Lang may your lum reek
Barrie
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Hi Martin
I think I can see weight added to the wedges in the picture concerning the morallity of square or v grooves, can you tell me if adding weight to a club is illegal or just morally questionable.
Lysle
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Hi Martin
Just like to reiterate the sentiments of those above... I too, have been following your progress over the last couple of years. It is great to see a Scot doing so well on the PGA Tour. All the best for the coming year, I look forward to reading your blog and hopefully see you at the Open later on this year.
Doc
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Hello Martin
Can you please have a quiet word with the American TV guys and tell them that there is more to golf than the putts, thats all they seem to show !
Seriously, good luck and look forward to the blog.
How are you changing your game plans in light of the new wedge groove rules mate ?
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Martin,
Hope you know that you are a big favourite of the BBC's 606 Golf Board.
Talking of warm, sunny days, I followed you for a round in the cold and the rain and the wind of Turning Stone, really admired your ball-striking in difficult conditions.
Seems you're a victim of your own good play with some events you've enjoyed success at in the past now clashing with Majors / WGC's.
So: What does your schedule look like for the first part of the year?
Good luck, great to have a British golfer succeeed under the radar of the publicity machines!
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Dear Martin,
Follow you all the way from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, the pinnacle of Scottish golf prowess. Also thanks to Douglas Lowe of the Herald being a big supporter of you and keeping us up to date with all your progress. Now follow every week on the USPGA tour website and am glad you have started this blog. Trying to identify you or anybody who is not USA born on the golf channel and on the website is near impossible unless you win. Which you have of course. Just keep your accent Martin. We'll forgive you for everything else!
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Well done "hanging on" in the Houston Open, Martin. Your third round score must have really irked you after doing so well to get to 4 under.Followed you on the "shottracker" system. Keep it going as we all keep rootin and a tootin (apologies for the vernacular) for you from way over here to way over there!
I was fortunate enough once to play on the ASU Karten course when I in Scottsdale few years ago. I assume you have played it yourself? It is an American collegiate version of a "links" course (right in the middle of the Arizona desert). Only in Amurrica!
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