Tuesdays out here on the PGA Tour are typically when guys like to get money games in. Wednesdays, too. It depends how schedules line up, when guys get in and how they are feeling about their games. There are also guys who stick to themselves and prefer to prepare alone, but for many of us, the best way to get tournament-ready is to put something on the line, even if it’s just for nine holes.
I think back to my time on the Korn Ferry Tour. I remember very specifically an event where I played a practice round by myself, and I just putted mindlessly, and then I got on the first hole the next day and realized, I never even read a putt yesterday. I had no idea how the grain was affecting the roll. When I play against someone for money, even if it’s just for $20, I am reading that putt from both sides like my life depends on it. That’s just the way golf works for me.
Are there times where I enjoy going out and playing with the family, like on Thanksgiving? Sure, but only very occasionally. Maybe this sounds bad, but if there’s nothing on the line, what’s the point? I’ve played so much tournament golf in my life that I can’t have any fun playing for nothing.
Joe Highsmith and Neal Shipley are two guys who’ve both won for the first time recently and love big money games with each other. Those guys know playing for some scratch keeps them sharp. Whether it’s a few thousand or a few hundred bucks on the line, they are going to treat it like a tournament.
The games we play are like the ones you probably play at your home course: Nassaus, closeouts, some side action. At The Players, I played a random game with Keith Mitchell. I can’t even remember the rules, but it had a lot of automatic presses. When Keith calculated it all at the end of the round, I was like, daaaang, but I was happy to pay him because it got me ready for that week. I made the cut at that very hard golf course for the first time in my career. Now I need to get Cashmere lined up for another round to get him back. Out here, it’s always cash or Venmo. I don’t like settling up at the end of year, and I don’t think many guys do, either.
A lot of players have games with their caddies, too. I know Wyndham Clark and his guy John Ellis get pretty wild with it. From what I understand, Wyndham has to shoot three under or better for nine holes, and in addition, get up and down seven of nine times from spots that Ellis chooses. Wyndham also must make six out of nine putts from 10 feet. Those are three $100 bets between him and Ellis. That’ll get the juices flowing, especially for Ellis, who’s got to just stand there and watch. It’s about motivation. John wants Wyndham to keep that same chip on his shoulder that he had when he was outside the top 100 of the World Ranking. If that means the caddie must fork over some cash for it, so be it.
What might really surprise you is how mini-tour guys aren’t afraid to play for a lot. I was like that back then, too. I remember having only a few thousand in the bank, all borrowed from backers and supporters, and I’d play for more money than I do now. Talk about learning to play under pressure.
For me now, though, it’s less about the amount and more about giving my buddies a hard time. A dollar might not get me going, but a twenty looks nice. Hundreds are nicer. It being your money in my pocket makes it look really nice. —With Christopher Powers
