Ever wondered what it takes to switch from the physical grit of rugby to the finesse of golf? Join us as we welcome Sam Murphy, one of the star members of the GCU golf team, who made just this transition. This episode takes you through Sam's unique journey from his rugby days in Portumna to his passion for the golf greens, and how he balances the high-pressure life of a student-golfer at Lea.
The world of golf isn't all birdies and eagles; it comes with its fair share of bogeys too. Sam opens up about the physical toll the sport can take, recounting his struggle with ankle injuries that required multiple surgeries and even a fusion. But he also shares the triumphs, from being paired with top amateur players in the East of Ireland Championship, to the sheer joy of winning at his home club, Portumna. Listen in as he reflects on managing the pressure of being favourite, his strategies for focusing on the course and his personal experience of presentations.
Even when the going gets tough, Sam's spirit remains unyielding. He reveals his plans for returning to the GCU golf team post-injury, his admiration for Tiger Woods' comeback, and his team's aspiration to defend their conference title. We also discuss the possibility of him taking a step back from certain events next year, in a commitment to listen to his body and manage his recovery. So, come along for the ride, and be inspired by Sam's incredible passion for golf, his unwavering determination to reach his goals, and his resilience in overcoming obstacles.
Follow amateur info
https://instagram.com/irish_amateur_golf_info?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Ever wondered what it takes to switch from the physical grit of rugby to the finesse of golf? Join us as we welcome Sam Murphy, one of the star members of the GCU golf team, who made just this transition. This episode takes you through Sam's unique journey from his rugby days in Portumna to his passion for the golf greens, and how he balances the high-pressure life of a student-golfer at Lea.
The world of golf isn't all birdies and eagles; it comes with its fair share of bogeys too. Sam opens up about the physical toll the sport can take, recounting his struggle with ankle injuries that required multiple surgeries and even a fusion. But he also shares the triumphs, from being paired with top amateur players in the East of Ireland Championship, to the sheer joy of winning at his home club, Portumna. Listen in as he reflects on managing the pressure of being favourite, his strategies for focusing on the course and his personal experience of presentations.
Even when the going gets tough, Sam's spirit remains unyielding. He reveals his plans for returning to the GCU golf team post-injury, his admiration for Tiger Woods' comeback, and his team's aspiration to defend their conference title. We also discuss the possibility of him taking a step back from certain events next year, in a commitment to listen to his body and manage his recovery. So, come along for the ride, and be inspired by Sam's incredible passion for golf, his unwavering determination to reach his goals, and his resilience in overcoming obstacles.
Follow amateur info
https://instagram.com/irish_amateur_golf_info?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Okay, welcome back to the next episode of the Irish and podcast. This week. I'm joined by Sam Morphe. Sam, my man. Who you? Gary? How's things? Thanks for having me on. No bother at all, that's good. Sam is out over in sunny Arizona at the moment, so a member of the GCU team. So how's college at the moment, Sam?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's been good. Like I came back. I got an actual surgery back in the end of August, so I came back five weeks late. So this is some of the casual school work and stuff, but I'm slowly getting there. It's been a quiet semester because I'm not practicing, not playing, so, yeah, definitely weird, but it's nice to be back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely a different bit of an environment for, like with the injury, as you stated, and kind of like, I suppose, being in college in America for golf and I suppose you didn't kind of take up golf and end up in America injured. So when did you take up the game initially, sam?
Speaker 2:I was probably like nine or 10, like playing junior camps and performing that, but like, definitely like when I was 12 or 13, I would have been on like the kind of panels and stuff. I was like I stuck with that for a couple of years and I won the kind of 12 plus maybe and stuff. And I still don't think I was that, but I was just sort of playing for the crack and it was nice to meet up with the lads and stuff. But and then, like sort of 14, I got picked for the Irish panel or whatever, and then I realized I actually might be decent at this, like so, okay, well, it was definitely like nine or 10. I just messed about, like me and a lot of juniors like stuff. So at that stage yeah.
Speaker 1:So like, as you said, success pretty early on in the game, which is, I suppose, a good driving factor. And you mentioned Portumna club that there's great passion in. I suppose it probably easier putting it to you and like a great track. That has been a lot of amateur pedigree in the holds and amateur event that was I'm guessing we get into in a little bit. But so you have. You always played your golf over the Portumna yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I grew up playing on the wheel. I lived like two minutes down the road from the course, so I've heard on this one really I love it like, but she's what they've done. The past like two or three years has been, yeah, in ever since I went to college, like I come home for Christmas, home for summer, maybe on a new pro shop, new locker rooms, so that's done like evidence changing. We got two new greens, so everything has been really good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because, like I suppose my time is important. It has only been there, has only been the last two or three years, so I've got to see all of the nice of these first hand. They suppose yeah, really precious hours that way. But it's a club that does seem to be kind of full of, I suppose, looking at the advancement of golf and kind of just as it was like to support the players to which. There's something I've noticed in my time being up there They've been a great bunch of people to deal with, I suppose, and so you mentioned your early days in golf, sam, there about like under 14 wins in Irish panels and stuff. So you pretty much turn your hand to it and you kind of it becomes something that early on in your teenage years that you kind of start focusing on. So a little bit, is it?
Speaker 2:Definitely not, because, like, I went to the boarder's school in Roxgrey so I went there like I was really 13. Okay, and so like you come home every weekend at a moment of Saturday morning or something, you go back in Sunday night, so like you wouldn't really go out for you wouldn't go out for the week for sure. But I would have just been like we were mad at rugby, big rugby school, like so, yeah, the fifth year, like I was playing junior cup rugby, senior cup rugby, I was playing senior her to nothing to probably TY as well, maybe early 50 years. Well, yeah, I would have kept playing rugby up until 60 or over the hit and then started getting ankle problems there. So I was in a boot for the whole 60 or anyway. So, okay, but I was definitely not all golf growing up for sure.
Speaker 2:I was like I was mainly rugby. I was like if you told me to pick back, then I would play rugby. Then we were going to, like I was on the Irish under 16 panel, so like you would be playing and even the under 18 panel, you play rugby games. Like we'd be training Monday and then we'll have a match Wednesday train, friday train, saturday morning, and then I'll go to Carton House battered and bruised for a weekend session and come back Sunday night. So then I sort of realized I can't really go on up every weekend with a black eye, or yeah, you sort of need to pick at that stage of my ex or start to get bad then. So I was like decided then I'd stick to be off.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I guess what you are from, a local you mentioned her and as well as Portomna, pretty much a massive hurling place as well. So like it's something, I suppose, like I think I met just somewhere else as well. But like being Irish, like we all kind of throw our hand a lot of different kind of sports, it's just something like GA is always going to be some part of it and then just kind of always something in the mix will be. For me was never kind of something that was a part of my life, but like soccer or GA was always something that was kind of there Golf ever became any bit important.
Speaker 1:But so you kind of get to your later team. So then you have to make a choice, as was, as you said, and being good at stuff kind of comes at a price at times. Like you have to kind of look at it and say, ok, I'm good at rugby at the time and you're good at golf, and you kind of make a choice. But what was kind of defining factor for you making a choice in terms of golf? I would.
Speaker 2:It's probably the time I was the Irish boys sort of been in, but it's just gone 18 and I was like looking at going to college in America and then after I won that like a few colleges were interested in stuff so I was like that's very time to pack in the rugby. But I was like I was going to play rugby for one more year so I couldn't finally go and then my I could start getting mad at the surgeon. He was like yeah, I can't be playing rugby anymore. So that made the decision pretty easy for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you kind of skip over the quickly there and I was kind of going to get next in there, but the Irish boys in that was in temporary one and hardest. Do you remember much of that one.
Speaker 2:Oh, definitely. Yeah, that's like first national title. I wonder like I'm kind of under 16 maybe, but like nice to win a boys event as well.
Speaker 2:But, it's early. I loved her. It's like an hour from the film. That's not too bad. And then we won a junior cup all Ireland there year before, two years before, so I knew it was pretty well. I remember the first two rounds Maybe I was like one under, two under three under. I was leading by like one or two going to find around. We got to like an hour on the fog delay. So you just sit in the car. All you want to do is just the off. You're just sitting in the car. And then I remember I chipped in on two and three. It wasn't too bad, it was a nice start.
Speaker 2:And then yeah, and then I just did it up on the back night, made a lot of puts like nice, like 10 to 20 footers, all for birdie. It was like that was fine. And then after like maybe 15 or 16, I knew I was up by like five or six but like even like 17, 18 or four was a girl. So like yeah, I was just like hitting as hard as I could down the safe side. But that was really special. It was over the us. So if you could not have as much support there because it's close to home as well, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Like a top will come and own a stretch and like again your home club, portomner probably the tightest golf course in the country, I would say definitely off the tee. So like it's definitely beneficial one coming down the stretch knowing that you can keep it in play, like if you can get it around Portomner, like yeah, and.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't be back then. It definitely wasn't good. Off the tee, no, off the tee was. I prefer a shot like off the tee. But that week I just had a golden yeah, and it was me. To me. You just feel comfortable off the tee and you just hammer. You know, hammered down, the left is going to fade.
Speaker 1:So yeah, so that's you're playing. That's when you're almost heading. Actually, just go back a second. You mentioned the junior coach with Portomner about the year or two earlier. So you were what? 15 16 at that time. That's over, yeah.
Speaker 2:It would have been around 15, maybe just going 16. Yeah, and we had a good team. Yeah, it was the year like Junicup went like handicaps to go to like 3.5 instead of you have to be a five or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I remember like maybe three out of the five was rough 3.5 finish in the year. Okay, and we waited all our lives and I Was off scratch at the time. I think that was the old system as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was off scratch and a couple of lads were off Like two, three, one that we don't really go to your company.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, except we find the finals. We just won our first three matches. The bottom two lads, we're still open the matches, but they got called in every time it's got called in.
Speaker 1:So yeah, a young 16 year old going out first in the Final, I think you won't hand in off to it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one of 14 board is yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's kind of you like to go stress free stuff, sorry yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, most of my means have been quite a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I have to do your spies. That is that kind of when college golf becomes on through your freedom. I was told that happens, yeah yeah, because I would have been.
Speaker 2:There's more final year boys golf, and like we built in Karen house doing sessions and stuff and maybe Chances, lads being like always open this college, what college? You talk to us, so that was nice. And then, like, once you win an event, like coaches do notice you and, and that was nice, like the following day was all just like talk to coach, talk to coach, to talk to coaches, okay, and then you have to start making decisions and stuff and yeah, looking into it. So, but dad was really good for me with that as well, like dad and a lot of other people have. That like Paul McBride is a huge help as well. Okay, good, even lads that were in college, I text them as well. So it's definitely. But yeah, you have to do a lot of work with college dog. You don't realize it until you're in the middle of it.
Speaker 2:Go and tell us a little bit about the work you have to do. It's like you think like coaches are just gonna come to you and yeah, but definitely not a huge. Definitely should be like sending your emails, like send them to two hundred colleges if you want, yeah, yeah, I get back to you. They're not gonna come to you unless you're like one of the best, yeah. And then there's a lot of research you gotta do with college like is where it's located, facilities, all that stuff.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it's not as easy as whatever things it is, but it does seem to be the work in the background of like the player having to, I suppose, engage a little bit like, as you said, unless you are the elite of the elite, like I'm not gonna know who, some guy in Cork or Galway is like realistic yard.
Speaker 2:No, I definitely do have to read about it. They're obviously Winning and playing a golf is gonna help. So, like, yeah, just tell them this is what I've done, that about that. Like then they might be interested, but it's definitely worth putting your name out there first. I teach that sentiment text on Instagram. Send the coach text on Instagram GCU hold.
Speaker 1:How did you land on GCU then?
Speaker 2:I was between a few and Towards the end of, like, my decisions. I was between maybe two or three that. And then, well, I was talking to the assistant coach at the time he's gone now but, um, he sent me a text. He was like that, set up a call as I get perfect, and then we got talking. He was really good about it and like we explained everything and like there's a lot of internationalism on the team as well, which, yeah, maybe English, german, danish.
Speaker 2:I was like, okay, there's a lot of international to be good. And Then I was looking at like facilities wise and stuff, like they've got facilities and perfect weather, like it's one of the perfect place to come, and it's like we're close to downtown Phoenix as well, so like we're in a good spot. So then I think maybe it took me a while to make a decision, though, and I was definitely between two for quite a bit, and then I decided to go on GCU Just because I seen there was a lot of potential in the team as well, which has happened as well, like we haven't quite good.
Speaker 1:since I've got here, we've Made history quite a couple of times, so yeah, just some good results being sacking off, that kind of Keep me closer in how you're all going. And so you get to GCU. And I suppose at this point then, sam, like how does the balance of like what's the day in the life of a student at Lea basically like? So, like, how do you balance playing golf and studies? Not to it's all?
Speaker 2:like I mentioned, is very important, but then any you need have to like have your day plan out all the time. Yeah, you've class at, say, on like Tuesdays, we've class from three to seven. So, like you're you want to be, you want to go to Jimmy or Lee with six, then you're at the course for eight o'clock till After. When you come back, straight class for the day and then you're shattered anyway after class. So like dinner and bed, like yeah, but it's just like a lot of practice on a class that you know homework to do as well and and then you got workouts as well. So everything is like really hectic. Monday to Friday is really hectic. Mm-hmm, that is one day isn't too bad. So do you have your days off or just practice what you want to practice and stuff. So, but not is really good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like as you said, like in Arizona as well, like that's gonna happen pretty much all year round for you, like in which you're gonna have the weather to be to be Drainage at all times, like yeah, I just shorted t-shirt.
Speaker 2:Weather all the time like, so there's no complaints at all shoes that we out there.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I suppose you you have to do one complaint that we don't get here too often as well. They're probably having to practice when it's too hot for you, but yeah, you wouldn't need it for life. So college golf then. So I suppose team it up in America and I Know the guys are going up against would grow up playing torment golf again, like the AGGA stuff and all that kind of stuff Like. But like competition golf in Ireland like you we are was play competition golf like there was no kind of friendly Golf. So like like I know a lot of the lads in America that may be around you, like I'm different teams of stuff will kind of Golf is kind of a hidden giggle in a bit of a crack like and yeah, what's the, what's the structure like in the events in America then, and like is obviously the NC double a stuff is extremely serious like. So Quality you feel like would you see a big difference over there to here?
Speaker 2:and it depends on the event. Like we're 50, 50 odd, we'll play some good events. Then we won't listen. No great events, which is fine. And when they go to events, like you can see like these lads are like the top lads are just really good, yeah, they just get it in the hole, even how bad they're playing, they just get it on like it's not gonna be five wonder, but it's gonna be level power. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And and in the weaker events you can see like the eyes are like weaker off the T's are just not as strong. They don't hit it as far as don't hit it as good. And but in comparison to Ireland, I Just think I'm sure golfers are such a good spot right now. So like, yeah, it's hard to know they look it. I didn't play many events with a full field this year, but it's the sound even this year I there's a lot of people that will handle them.
Speaker 1:Conditions? No, I think. Yeah, that's definitely what we have to struggle with here. Well, the players struggle here. Is that like learning to again put the ball in the hole, and kind of funky conditions like yeah, we were actually talking about it the other day.
Speaker 2:We were saying, like golf in Ireland, you're asking like where's gonna be tough for Ireland or America? We're saying like Ireland probably is because, like we've got all the elements, like, yeah, we could be a woolly hat during the summer, like in America. You're not. Yeah, don't need both. Team on America is like you got different grass, you got grain, you got that one. They don't really have the conditions that we have those. Hard to compare them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I suppose it's probably where like building the golfers versus like learning to play golf, almost like in Ireland.
Speaker 1:You have to learn to play golf. I was to learn to be able to manipulate the game a little bit, whereas in America you can almost see it. There was something that was kind of evident for me even at Walker Cup you could kind of see the Americans. It was like set up, hit the target and just kind of you said, andrews, the conditions were good, so like it was bought, flight was high, it was all the same kind of different ways of doing the same thing, I suppose, like just things might look different but it was the same kind of result, whereas here you have to be able to get it while you know and everywhere in between that I suppose.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the feel is very important around back at home, like you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, there could be and the crazy one. Like I suppose one of the things that's kind of Standout recently is like there's been a number of you coming home from college the last, particularly the last couple years that I've been kind of Wrong golf and there's like doing extremely well when you do so, like I suppose that's kind of why I was asking the question in terms of Standard as well as that, like lads coming back from college, you're never too far away or you're kind of in the mix and events, kind of straight off the plane. Let's call it like you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's because, like we don't really have an offseason, like we're just always playing compositions. Yeah, so they were coming home either Maybe a little burns out from a busy couple of weeks towards the end of the semester, but they were coming home with a lot of golf underneath their belt and especially like, if you finish the year playing pretty well, yeah you're home a lot of confidence as well to courses that you know, conditions that you like, grasses that you like as well.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I think, and like back at all, we were saying as well, like if you shoot three or four under in a first round in the tournament in Ireland, it's probably gonna be top 10. Yes, but at worst you will be outside top 10. Yeah, and we're like you could shoot four or five under in A tournament out here and you will be 50 yeah, and it's probably that for like, there's definitely that factor for you.
Speaker 1:Isn't there like there's learning to go alone in America and and yeah, yeah, where's here it can be. So how, like for anyone interested in college golf, sound, before we kind of move on to kind of stuff over here, a little bit like what would be your selling point now to get some more Irish into GCU not that you kind of need to many more, I'm just just previewed or to give it off or really like.
Speaker 2:And yeah, like I. It just depends on the person because, like, obviously you do have some home birds and like they don't want to leave home, yeah, but I definitely like you. It raises your golf game so much coming to America.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like to get into it, like we're practicing and playing like pros, like we're treated like pro athletes. We're like we go to events like practice rounds. We have all our notebooks, yardage books, like like a pro event. And then our practice schedule like we're hitting balls every day. We've especially us. Like we've perfect weather, like back at home you don't have, we don't have good weather. Like and how many times I've got notifications on my phone that, for example, it's closed for the day because of the rain. Like you're not going hitting balls that day. So you might hit balls for four or five days in a row, but out here you're always going to do what's so. And then the competition you're playing against, like if you're back at home again, you're not playing with good golfers, like you could be messed around with the lads or something to do. And then you're practicing with lads who are like off plus five, up plus six up 500 in the world, whatever.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you're working on it, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think that's really important as well.
Speaker 1:And like Sam going to GCU versus Sam now, how much would you reckon your game has improved?
Speaker 2:It's hardly even put into words, like definitely a lot Like short games got a lot better, like scoring has gotten better, just having bad days turning to okay days, being able to go low, like not being scared to go low, yeah, yeah, I think you see that at home. A lot Like people like, yeah, like five, six hundred, they start to pull back with it, or it's up to like out here you just keep stepping up and then mental side of it as well, like because, like we play so many events we play we're golfing all the time. So, like not to get too down, you're stepping up to get like the emotions, like emotions to get the better. Yeah, especially, there's such long days and college days, like you would see it when you're following the scores, like we're out there for 12 hours, 36. It's long, it's straight and you don't want to be like getting down about like you shot, you hit five holes ago. Yeah, but it's definitely important to keep the energy levels high as well and if you don't let the emotions get the best of you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just on that one. Actually, sam and I haven't asked this question before or something I've always been interested in. You pretty much come off. Let's say that you tee off on one in the event. I know you can go to do shotgun starts, but you're pretty much off 18, like back onto the first tee again, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So like say, if we're doing shotgun starts, if they invite you off on the third hole and then I finish on the second, I just walk straight to 30 bucks and tee off Just madly, like there's no, there's no. Like soup and sandwiches in between or not? No.
Speaker 1:And the long runs, like it's actually about six hours and you're six hours behind me, so it'll be two o'clock in the morning when they're coming off the court.
Speaker 2:You reckon my head like, yeah, like we'll be like we'll tee off and sunrise is we tee off, and then we'll keep playing until sunset, cause there's days that we won't play 36 holes in a day.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's insane, it's. There's just log day, especially when you got two bad angles. Like me, you're carrying a bag around the off course it's not the best.
Speaker 1:Let's chat the ankles for a little bit actually, sam, cause it's definitely a major part of your story in the last couple of years. So, like you mentioned that, I suppose starting in second or in your final year of secondary school what's been going on with them?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So basically I have no movement. Side to side movement. I've nothing in both. They won't move side to side, which is fine you can go, for the trackers move to side to side.
Speaker 2:But this day my right one started getting bad, like my in sixth year, first couple of weeks. So I went up to Sanctuary and they were like, okay, we'll put you in a boot for six weeks that's not perfect and then take the weight off it. So I went and put six weeks. I was finding the boot. But I came out the boot exactly the day the following day.
Speaker 2:So get a steroid injection. Didn't work. Another injection the other side of my ankle didn't work. So then I ended up getting surgery that March. So what they did was they go in and clear out your joint and give me, try to give you your movement back, but then when the character joins you don't have any character left. You don't have any of that stuff left. So got that in March and the right one was good. So I had a decent summer as well, going into my freshman year. And then it was around this time my freshman year, during, like those Thanksgiving week, I hit a shot and I was like I had this shooting pain up my ankle on my left side.
Speaker 2:And then I was like that's the left one there we go. So right before Christmas I think I got surgery on like the 16th 17th of December. I flew home on the 22nd or 23rd and then I pushed way too quick to get back. We were going to my first week in February and I got surgery mid December. So I'm there trying like I should be out for three months but they're trying to. I come back in a boot and crutches and I'm expecting to be able to walk 18 holes and shoot under par in three weeks, which I managed to do, but I shut them down. Then I basically played in one leg for the whole semester. I get another surgery. We lost conference in May. So we're coming back from Vegas on a Sunday night or Monday and I'm booked in for surgery and Tuesday morning.
Speaker 2:So then that year I would have missed all of my stroke play, british AMO, that stuff. I think my first event back was the South and then the actors were good. So then I did a full year of college golf, which is quite a bit, and I was starting. My right one was starting to get bad then and then I put them in a B in 36, 36. And like if you go deep in the South you're walking a lot, same as like one of the guys the East, like there's a lot of walking, yeah. Then my ankle doesn't feel great.
Speaker 2:And then I scheduled to meet with a surgeon the day after one of the guys. So after we walk in 36, 36, back up to Dublin Monday morning he looks at me and said yeah, it doesn't look good. He sent me for four scans that night. So I went back to go all of that night, got four MRIs done midnight and he said I look at the scans. On Friday he looked at the scans. He was like we're going to fuse your ankle. What they do is just they drill two screws up through your heel. So I would have it's basically fused now. And they fuse it because I had really bad arthritis.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So he put drill two screws up through my heel. So I let him know I'll never have side to side, which is fine. I never had it. So I gave him the arthritis and gave him the pain that did that surgery. That's the longterm fix. Well, it's the surgery, tiger gum. So that's the longterm fix.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I suppose like you're what? 23, 24?, 21. 21. You're not a baby, yeah, okay, so you're 21 and your one ankle fuse. Second one is kind of slight issues as well. What's the long-term management plan? You have taken time up this time, in fairness, you haven't had much options, but the rest didn't kind of.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I knew, because this surgery was mentioned very first surgeon I went to two and a half years ago. He said you're going to need to get a fusion at some stage. We knew I was going to have to get a putt. We didn't think I'd be 21 getting that. We thought he'd be 50 or 60. That was a bit of a shock when he said, okay, we're going to have to use it and I knew you're out for six months and that's it. There's no coming back early. So you just have to accept that.
Speaker 2:And then what did? The long-term? I think the right one's going to be fine. Now I'm feeling really good. I do not rehab these days but and then the left one is down to go at some stage, but not good. And the scans look good. When I got scans done during the summer, they look good. So I got probably a term pro at some stage as well. But you don't have to look attractive as well in your head to be like how long can you do it for? Either keep playing on pain or just get a fix before your term pro. There's all that and things you have to look at too. But trying to get the right one healthy first.
Speaker 1:Exactly, yeah, and I should have known you weren't 23 because you won the honest 21 in the East this year. The East it's the kind of I should have known that one a bit better. But so you're currently rehabbing, but before you did, you did come back and play a bit of golf in Ireland this summer Again, as I said, college golf in Ireland. Like the college players in Ireland this year you just seem to come off playing some kind of competing tournament. So you arrived back, the East was forced so you get into a playoff above in Baltria. So that was an exciting couple of days for you, wasn't it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was really good. I was home maybe a week after coming back from the region of California and I was playing good golf, like the last couple of weeks. So I knew my game was there and I didn't play the East since I was in TY. It was 15, 16. Okay, and I actually played the East up there as well. I maybe came to the top 25. So for my first men's then, yeah, pretty good job. I like to go worse up there too when it's always really Condition is so good. So we went up there and myself and dad and first two rounds people were raff. Everyone was playing raff, you know what I'm saying, yeah.
Speaker 2:But yeah, some people do anyways. But yeah, when I was playing the East when it was 15 or 16, you'd see Raff being like, oh, there's Raff. Yeah, he's probably one of the best amateur players for Ireland and so I was excited to get to play with him in the first two rounds and we'd go crack and I healed a lot of support out there because he was only like half an hour away. So that was probably a lot of support and we were like sorry, don't take it away Like getting good God between us and then getting paired with Alex in the final two days or the final two rounds. That was really good. I feel like Alex has so much support, like an end. I think the back night was a bit of a shit show for all of us. We did the wabba's go to Albert, throw the doble, throw the birdies, getting up and down from anywhere. Yeah, it was a bit funny.
Speaker 2:I'm not that excited for people to watch any of this, but then just crowds were unbelievable. Yeah, it was crazy, wasn't it? Yeah, like when they're getting roped off and everything. I felt like probably only about 2% or 3% of them wanted me to be there. I got an X on my back because the two boys are from like three boys there.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately for you, I think yeah, I'd have to agree with you Unfortunately that, like the boys being so close that they did start to bring the code as the kind of today went down, but like massive experience, that, particularly that last two hours, like yeah, like that last whole, like I was looking just at, like some of the stories, the reels you have up, like it was the green was surrounded, like yeah, like it was insane and like even going back up that first one for the playoff, like it was just a shit show. Everyone just remind for himself walking out that fairway. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I have a video of them. I think it's your group coming. Yeah, you were in the last group, so it's your group coming off 18 and I kind of put the camera up this way behind me and like there's just crowds of people, like it's, it's, it's a proper deep, like yeah a lot of people, but it was like it was great to see, but, yeah, like a really good week.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, you come out the wrong side of a playoff but again, as you said, like you're off your back a week, like you win the only 21 up there, but like you get into a playoff with Alex and Raf and I remember saying that you're walking off that like what a great start to coming back to the year and like to like, as you said, raf has been around as long as he's been around, so like you're like Alex has been saying, like so it's too good guys to be in playoff against and like to that, I don't mind losing either.
Speaker 2:No, it's one of their months. Like that.
Speaker 1:Look, you play a great golf and the boys play great golf and those I was going to play there's only one of you can win. About six days later you end up back in Portumna but the first person that's won an event in their home club since I've been kind of doing what I do, what I'm doing and there was a very different vibe around the back end of it. So, like the presentation and so it's a very personal conversation, I suppose is how the presentation goes. But you're the cracking first day, so you put yourself in a very comfortable position going up, particularly the final round. But let's talk about managing expectation here, sam. So, like you're going out in an event that you're probably favour if not one of the favourites going into that, you've done your part for 54 holes. How do you manage to stay focused for the final lady in holes that day?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think well, the goal over in the Lester final. So I was like so much that my phone during the final round so like that sort of kept it like the distractions away and stuff. But I just talked to my coach because like it was a weird tournament, like I had bad patch of holes and like you're always going to have bad patch of holes. But I came out of them batch of holes like in 300. But I hit it the worst I did for them holes. And I had a good talk to my coach, gary Madden. We talked a lot after round.
Speaker 2:He called me that night and he was there to watch me the final round and he was just like just keep doing what you're doing. Like this is your home course. You go out there and shoot six days all the time. So yeah, things like just keep it in front. Yet, like some holes were usually I'm aggressive, I did pay it back. Lowell Dab was like you're not lovely driver here, five iron or something. Well, and now I just felt like just go out and do what I did, like especially going from the East the week before, like I learned a lot, that fine round, especially like the last five, six holes in the East and the playoff. You learn not from that. So I was in this position last week fight for the leader in the lead. So like I should learn from that and look at it. But like it's nice having that confidence out there. Yeah, play that course so many times I know everything like it was just going out there and just like having fun here and that's it.
Speaker 1:Like that can be a positive and a negative, I know. If it's me, I know where every part of the OB on my courses rather than and that's probably what, that's probably what come into my head. More so, and that's probably why I follow you with a camera and I'm not the one being followed with the camera, but it was a very special day to kind of just to witness it. Like you mentioned your dad, so it's like your dad is on the bag above you and obviously your family, as you're all local, is your home club, so they're all coming down as the procession almost kind of starts to end and like we're walking down the last couple of holes. Well, like how was that? Like 17, 18, like how much of that do you remember? And just kind of digisoccal in it at any point.
Speaker 2:And I think 15 and 16 are two tough T shots. Like 15, it's just once you get it out there and I just want to hit it, just a hard draw like gets up the draw, and I managed to get it out there. I had a good chance of birdie and then 16. I go once I knew I got that T shot away and I was fine and like 17 is not a nice world beyond, no matter how much you're not. And I hit the same T shot always. I had like a hybrid off the tee.
Speaker 2:We get down to the very bottom and it was in the rough every day by like six inches. So I couldn't go for the green. So I hit the T shot and I said to dad I was like if that's on the fairway, I'm going for it. And he was like, okay, fine, and it was on the fairway by like six inches. I wasn't sitting great down. I was like give me the three one. Then I just smashed straight into the water. So then I was like then I started to focus again. I was probably like not focused on that shot. I was like, oh, should I hit the water? Like let's get up down for power here. And then 18 again is like I just want one more. But one more would speak of it. Hit the middle of the green, because that's a tough green. You could make a fool of yourself up there, I definitely love to family and friends are up there and everything.
Speaker 2:So I was like, yeah, hit the middle of the green here in two pots. So once they had the green and then that's in green, you green for about a year and a half now. So I don't really know what that will. Okay, I probably. I still don't know some of the brakes on it, so I'm like I didn't really know which way it's breaking. I was like it's just, it's just hitting straight, get up there somewhere close to then get up to tap the interagency. Then it was like, yeah, I finally got it.
Speaker 1:So definitely really special moment yeah, because it's definitely and that's kind of what I was asking about like letting it talk in almost was the the water ball on 17.
Speaker 1:Is this like it's a course that it could do anything like an any shot? Like I think who was on the podcast recently, oh, eddie, and we were chatting and I was kind of saying that like it's just a course, you have to go off the tee and you have, like you probably have a turn and for you you probably have less into more screens, but you have to hit the right part of the green or the greens are so small you have to be able, you have to be on all better, let's say 17, where you have a longer shot in, but like there just seems to be trouble everywhere on the course. Like it was a certain shot to play and if you don't play that shot you're going to be in trouble. But walking off 18, so your, your home club or your family, you're up in the bank waiting for you and must have been a very, very nice moment for you yeah, I know I was definitely.
Speaker 2:It's one like I've been tired, since I've got kind of short place.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I don't know when I got it maybe five years ago, six years ago and Eddie won it first but definitely be able to celebrate my family stuff was like four special and and all the members, everything was like the club have done so much for me and like, yeah, definitely past few years, like I've been involved in like first time when I seen her go to bar in shield and save me, or we won a junior football island, like being involved there and all the players that were on that team with me and they've helped me out so much as well. So, um, for all them to be there it was like really special. And then, especially what the club is doing in the last like two or three years, like the money they've put it in the yeah, like green keepers, like everything about put on the off-the-board was like unbelievable. So I was like so happy to be able to actually win it because, like everyone was open, like they've been wondering for like four years that when am I gonna win this thing?
Speaker 1:yeah yeah, so finally, third time, no team managed to get it done, which was was nice yeah, I know, and like you could tell by like and that's what I was kind of saying to you there a couple of minutes ago like having won it in your home club. So like there's a presentation after every event obviously, and like the person given the presentation will have a great pride in their club, regardless of who the trophy is going to. But like you're the first person I've seen that were like the pride in the club is actually also in the player that's going to be getting the trophy. Yeah, but like the the whole presentation becomes. It becomes very like like there's there's real emotion in the fact of like even when the captain of the club was talking about like you was a young flair, he knew who you are. Obviously did the team events for him and that and stuff, like, so like it was a really magical kind of nice moment, like what?
Speaker 2:didn't. I know I was definitely something that I'll remember forever. Like, yeah, the captain in the urban, like I've it got to him since I've been like 12 or 13 and like yeah, he used to bring me up to Port Marnick and Tuesdays and stuff and I was in TY and stuff like.
Speaker 2:So I grew up playing with them and like by me playing with them helped their games quite a bit too. Yeah, like I started getting a lot better than not a lot better, but better than the guys in the off club. So they were like well, let's keep playing with time and stuff. So like every week we have good conditions for the groceries and stuff and there's a good bunch of lads there. So it was it was nice for all them to be there and stuff to like they were definitely part of that way and it felt like, yeah, that moment my family and stuff there was was really good.
Speaker 1:Yeah and like you and and, as you said, like your coach and stuff, it was kind of nice to see like all of that we mentioned.
Speaker 1:But like to have a club again that like has passion and their players, so like the way this works, all highly of you and again you did in in return in your own speech at them and like, as you just mentioned here, winning team titles with them, senior cups and barren jeans and all these things like it's a massive part of Irish culture, I suppose is like the team environment and then for golfers you break out into an individual sport, but to do all of that again as part of a team when you're actually in your home course was kind of really nice.
Speaker 1:So like a really strong summer here, sam. And like you, you go to the south, I think you make the, you make match play in the south and you have a good result again in Mullingair and then you're kind of talking operation after Mullingair. So we're sitting on the sidelines for the last couple of weeks and just something there announced last week that I was kind of surprised you weren't on it. The high performance panel will say was that something? I don't know how much you can tell me or not, but like, was there conversations going on that you were potentially there, or was it not something that yeah?
Speaker 2:well, I thought I did have a good chance, like I like losing a playoff win for coming out by 10.
Speaker 2:I had a good senior cup, like qualifying shoot 11 deep and then I beat TJ and TJ as a good player yeah and so I thought and I I lost for a round the hinge, but like that was just that week, like anyone win a match that week. It was a fan match, so and so and Holmes got picked after the hinge. So I thought, like after the hinge I was like I don't think I have a chance now because I didn't win my match and but I still thought I was in for a chance to high performance and stuff with with lads turning pro and stuff yeah so I didn't think I was in with a good shout.
Speaker 2:But like, did you have to look at people who get in on order merits and stuff? Like I don't know how many order merit counting events there, maybe like 10 in a year in the bridge stone?
Speaker 1:there's 11, I think men's 11 or 12, yeah, and yeah, like this is the top three order merit getting basically.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, like I only played four, like played for you, play off in one and you win the second one yeah, so yeah, it's very hard for me to get through an order merit, and then, since I've been injured so much in the past two years, my wagger isn't really that accurate either no so it's a weird one, definitely.
Speaker 2:I thought I had a good chance at making it but like I think it's everyone's dreams like make an Irish panel or like play at home or whatever. And I was like unlucky growing up that most of the phone calls I got weren't good phone calls. They were like you're not in travel and reserve You're not. And then my final year of voice got like just one of the Irish boys. We were going to Tokyo to play the world championships. We were playing homes and we were homes was in Clareney and we were playing Europeans in Sweden and then cocaine. So I couldn't play Like I played.
Speaker 2:I played a few games with Ireland, like against England or Wales and stuff, but like I've never had a chance to put on that blazer, I went to the, which obviously it's, I guess the young guy growing up like you want to put on that blazer. So like I don't have much longer, I've left amateur gobs like every year and a half left. I've been one more year in college and then after this year and then you're looking at turn and throw that anyways. So obviously it would have been nice to make the performance panel for this year, but I think just let your God to talk as well, and see what happens?
Speaker 1:Well, there's definitely that, like, the performance panel is there but like, like I suppose over the past number of years, like there's been enough players. So I was going to guess, but there's been enough players get on to whether it be homes or six man team that are part of the high performance panel anyway.
Speaker 2:So, as you said, for you like it's a case of just let the club do the talking, I would have talked, yeah, like I said, like I've been on the other end of phone calls that weren't the ones you wanted, way too much the good ones, which that's just. That's just like that's just golf and like that's being on teams and stuff. Like I haven't played college events, I haven't played for our teams and you do get used to it. Like you either have that chip in your shoulder which I like having that like okay, go out and try to prove something.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's definitely like not getting picked, especially when you're injured as well. Like I can't go on to beat balls for seven hours now because I'm pissed off, yeah, so like. So you can't do that either. So, but yeah, I've been on the wrong end of phone calls quite a bit, so I was surprised. But you don't let it affect you too much anymore these days.
Speaker 1:No, I think you have to look after you, though really, it's just kind of it is what it is Like it says. I think there's you and a couple more of us were surprised, but kind of is what it is. When it's team stuff, you have to put it, you have to take it out of your hands and then you can complain, and it was not as kind of hard to kind of yeah, funny one.
Speaker 1:So your back chipping? You were just saying there before we started your back hitting a couple of chips. You asked the last couple of days, so it must be very nice to have a club in your hand. After what is it now three months?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's been three and a half months now. Yeah, I've been out of the boot maybe like two weeks now and it's just it's a long process and like I could have put it in the boot and I was talking to my coach, gary, and back at home and he was saying you put in the boot yet I was like no, I did try but like everything's uneven, your hips are uneven, like it just feels horrible and like we had such a good I had a good putting summer and semester last year or something and there's no point putting and trying to change things. So I was like I'm just going to wait because I'm not rushing these things now. So I've been out of the boot maybe like five, six days now and then slowly back put and I can do like an hour put and 40 minutes of chipping a day and I have zero feeling chipping right now. That's just like either chip is going to go a foot it could go 20 yards by deepening the green, which is fine.
Speaker 2:Like I'm not expecting that, but and I'm looking for it to be my four, three have, now that you have zero expectations when you get back off Like a two foot put, like the whole looks fine. So yeah, hopefully I get out of it pretty soon. But it's nice to be back Like background the lads about it, because I was just like on campus and stuff, like when the boys are practicing and they were playing different courses, like I would just be on campus doing rehab or in the gym or something.
Speaker 1:So it's nice to be back on the team and stuff and yeah, and what was the last three months like, as you just said there, like not being able to walk to God's forces? The lads like that must have been a very different environment for you.
Speaker 2:So it was just head down in the books, like yeah, head down and book or asleep yeah, probably more sleep than in the books, to be honest, but it's definitely weird. So I missed the first five weeks of school so I was so far behind in classes. Anyways, I missed five weeks of stuff. So I'm still behind in classes, but definitely like when the boys are going to play in forces and stuff, like when they're going to qualify. It's weird when you're just like I will see you in 10s. So here's that. Nothing all day. Really. Like I was in crutches for a while when I got here and then slowly got out or slowly got off the crutches. So once I was off, like I was getting into two rehab sessions a day and then getting into two rehab sessions a day as well.
Speaker 2:So yeah yeah, trying to make the most of my time when I'm, I'm just trying to like be back moving really well and get the body moving really well before I'm back playing. So then I don't know if I've worked with that when I'm playing as much, so, but it's definitely weird.
Speaker 2:And then, like when the lads are traveling, like they were in Hawaii maybe two weeks ago and like yeah it's weird when you're saying goodbye to lads, but usually you're the one saying goodbye, you're usually the one on the plane and stuff, so yeah, and then you see all these strange stories of lads in Hawaii and they're in Kansas or whatever. So it was a weird one, but it was still. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 1:And what's the next couple of weeks going to look like for you. So how, how was the rehab plan like? So you can chip now? Like when can you swing a club?
Speaker 2:Um, I rehab is going well, like I've been sort of back leg pressing and like single leg stuff now, so it's trying to get strength back into the leg. So I'm hoping probably the next you want to say two weeks I'll be back, maybe hitting like a hundred yards of a head shot.
Speaker 2:Um, like we had a plan with the surgeon that January is like we'll just be back by January Okay, I'm ahead of schedule, but like there's again no need to rush it because it's all right now. So, um, I think before Christmas I'll be back hitting balls properly, but then no need to rush it. Like, by first week in February is when I want to be able to walk 18 holds. Yeah, so we still have quite a bit of time to do that. So there's no stress.
Speaker 1:What's that group of tiger?
Speaker 2:anything, no, no, I'll tell you anyway, we interested to see how he I see he's playing the heroes and be interested to see how he's moving for that stuff, cause he got surgery back in April or March or something. So the interest to see how his ankle is moving after that. Well, his leg is a bit more fucked up than mine, so you'll see how it is Tiger tiger.
Speaker 1:so basically, like as you were saying, there's very little side movement in your legs. It's kind of what it's going to be. So it's going to be a case of rehabber, Um so February, so you're looking to be back basically for your spring season, college kind of stuff, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we got a busy, busy spring season and then we won conference last year. So where we, um, where we're paying conference this year is basically our second home course, okay. So we've been back. It's like two hours away from us. Uh, we've been up there quite a bit and even I've been going up just like looking at course. I played a lot of times but I go up there and look at it with the lads hitting balls and stuff. So I should take a note and stuff like that for but I don't think I've been playing between now and May when we do, or eight, but we play conference. So we got a busy. I might sit out a few events next year. Like the band. I could be the walk this course for conference and it's a really tough walk it's. You don't walk it at all, but I could. Who was just said. I could take a week off here and there, like if I don't want to play on the bed or so, but obviously you want to play every event next year.
Speaker 2:But, again if I listen to the body, and I've learned that the hard way these days, so we'll see how it's going.
Speaker 1:Perfect, yeah. So best of luck with the recovery man and appreciate your time, and I shall hopefully catch you with no boot on you at some point in 2020, before walking a fair way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, thanks for having me on and thanks, William, for everything you're doing for amateur golf. It's been insane. I think all the college lads appreciate a lot more because, like everyone knows their scores, everyone knows what we're doing when we're six, seven hours away. So I really appreciate it. So thanks for waiting. Oh, what an aspect. It's been good fun.