College Golf Connection-Nick Watney Exclusive
Exclusive Interview with Nick Watney
Dr. Morris Pickens and Lynn Northrup
The Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines is where many of my players start their season. This gives us an opportunity to interview them and document their thoughts about their off season preparation. I started working with Nick Watney in June 2010. After the end of the 2010 season, I met with Nick, Butch Harmon (swing coach), and Chad Reynolds (caddie) to set goals for the 2011 season.
We reviewed the stats for 2010 and determined that if Nick wanted to become a world class player he needed to improve his scrambling and putting. Nick’s scrambling rating for 2010 was 146th and he was 87th in putting. A structured practice schedule was developed using specific short game and putting drills. Nick has moved up to 5th in scrambling and 8th in putting for the 2011 season. Here is what Nick had to say about the new practice schedule together with comments about transitioning from college to the PGA tour.
Lynn – What was it like transitioning from Fresno State to the Nationwide Tour?
NW – I was totally unprepared to make the jump from college to professional golf. I guess it’s a lot like baseball when you go from the minors to the big leagues. Everything is at a much higher level.
Lynn – What would you tell kids that want to turn pro on how to prepare for it?
NW– First, you get out of it what you put into it. There is no short cut or quick way. Play as much as you can because competition is where you learn about your weaknesses. For me it was the short game. If that is truly what you want to do, then you have to chase your dream. In my case, I didn’t have a backup plan and just kept after it.
Lynn – What were you practicing in college and how did you set it up?
NW– When I was in college I just tried to make a score. Some days I hit it great and some days I didn’t. My short game was better in college than when I turned pro. As a pro, I focused a lot on ball striking and it improved. I started hitting the ball real well and I started making scores in different ways. My short game slipped because I didn’t spend an equal amount of time working on it and that’s where I became different.
Lynn – You have made the transition to Butch and to Mo. How is that going?
NW – Well I feel like things are really on track. The putting and short game drills Mo provided are really helping me pull it together. Butch is great at what he does and he has helped me a lot from the physical standpoint of my long game.
Mo – He turned you into one of the top ball strikers in the game.
NW– As far as Mo, we have been working not yet a year, but I’m beginning to understand, not master it, regarding why I played well in the past and why I didn’t. I did not have structure in my routines or with the mental process. This is something I am just beginning to understand and develop. You can only get so good at hitting the ball and golf is so much more than just hitting it. I am now beginning to develop in the other areas of the game.
Lynn – So now you practice and work on your routine?
NW – Yes, Mo and I worked on it yesterday for an hour and a half. This also helps my mechanics. Without a routine you’re lost, especially under pressure.
Mo – Up until last year Nick got by primarily with a good attitude and being positive and upbeat in addition to good physical skills, but without much process as to how to go about it.
NW – Now I know how I go through the entire process, my mental routine, and decide what to do with each shot.
Lynn – Versus selecting a target, crossing the line, setting up, and then letting it go?
Mo – He was all feel and good enough to get away with it.
NW – I would agree with that.
Lynn – Are you doing all the drills?
NW – I am doing all the drills believe it or not. I really like structure. It’s my personality, so I feel like I am really working toward something. If I have a drill and I complete it, I feel like I have had a productive practice session. Mo provided the structure for practice so I now have a plan every day when I go to the golf course. There is a structured schedule for each day of the week in terms of the drills I work on and for how long. They include short game, putting, wedge drills, and on course practice.
Mo – You have a love hate relationship with the Z drill.
Lynn – You don’t like the Z drill?
NW – It sometimes takes me an hour to complete that drill.
Lynn – What about shafts, do you like that drill?
NW – I do like shafts. The shafts drill is way easier than the Z drill. But like I told Mo, I think I pick harder holes than Zach (Johnson) does.
Lynn – What about the Combo Drill?
NW – This is the drill with 27 balls using three different wedges. The goal is to get is to get 21 out of 27 within two club lengths. My best is 24. I sank some which counts for two shots. I really like this drill. Its funny when you are a foot outside of two club lengths, you think “what’s one foot?” But you’re only cheating yourself. Again, that’s structured practice that I love because it’s accomplishing something as opposed to just chipping.
Mo – Once you get it done you feel better about leaving. It represents better time management because you’re getting more out of your practice.
Lynn – Are you doing the string drill with forty foot putts or longer?
NW – I think I got up to eleven in a row.
Lynn – How do you practice driving and long game shots?
NW – Butch (Harmon) likes to go out on the course. We’ll work on the range in the morning and then in the afternoon we’ll go out on the golf course and see if it holds up. We think this is much more effective than just hitting balls on the range because you have realistic targets and situations.
Mo and Lynn – Nick thanks for your time and sharing the things necessary to become a world class golfer. Structured practice and time management are critical to success.
NW – You are welcome and you’re absolutely right on target with structured practice techniques.
