Michael Kim talks with Garrett in May at the Truist Championship about his great start to the season , what he learned in his second trip to Augusta National and the Masters, what’s caused his consistent play, and much more.
Garrett Johnson joined here by Michael Kim and Michael look at your season obviously second there in Phoenix and then go from there you get into the Bay Hill and just really transformed your whole year. How do you kind of look at things? Yeah, it’s been uh it’s been a great start to the year obviously um everything kind of clicked together starting at Waste Management and had a really nice run there until um really until the Masters and um yeah, I was super excited to play there and um hopefully I can keep it going this week. Well, getting back to Augusta, I know we had just mentioned off off mic that you hadn’t been there since 2019. What is it like to get back to Augusta National place we know you love so much? Uh, it’s great. Um, you know, as a kid growing up, you that’s the one tournament that, uh, you watch every year no matter what. And, um, you know, I played much better than I did in 2019. So, it was nice to make the cut, play the weekend, and uh, top 30. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, um, just um, just had a very nice week. Is it nice to get around Aman Corner and see some of those places a lot more throughout the week and really kind of soak that in more or Sure. Um, in 2019 I was playing so bad and I was in my head so much there that wasn’t able to enjoy a lot of the things that um that you you can enjoy when you’re at the Masters. And this time around um I my game was in much better shape. So I was able to take in the the beauty of the of Augusta and everything around it. So, um had a much better time this year. And what kind of detail do you mean by that? Just like our Magnolia Lane and some of those kind of par three contests, all that stuff. Yeah, that and just um you know, more so than that, just um I had this moment on 14 on on uh Friday where um I hit the shot in the fair I hit my T-shot in the fairway. Um, I had that kind of middle way right pin and you know I had seen pros hit that shot a million different times and they use the slope and it feeds over and and I was able to hit that exact shot that I’d seen on TV so many different times and and I was the one hitting that shot. So it was just a really cool moment for me. Um, and also kind of walking down 11, you get to see 12 and into 13 T- box and the fairway and just the and the patrons there and uh, it’s an beautiful spot. So, all those little things I was able to really take in um, this time around. When you mentioned they’re 12 and 13, isn’t that one of the most secluded places in all of golf or just like quiet like you just can’t fans can’t get over there, right? Patrons can’t get there. Yeah. Right. Um, you know, I made a birdie on um 12 um I think the first day and um you know it’s it was it was kind of between both bunkers so no one was able to see so uh no one really clapped but uh it’s it you know you’re But you knew. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It it was great and um you know like you said 13 that T- box even further back than before. So um you’re really just you know by yourself with with your u playing partners and uh it’s a it’s a really cool spot. Yeah. Well, I think about the signature events that you’ve now gotten into because of playing so well in Phoenix. What do you make of kind of the way the tour is structured that and the way you’ve kind of played into that uh momentum? I mean, signature events are are great if you if you can um play in them. You know, the extra points and money is uh is always really nice. Um you know, we’re all trying to um get inside that tour championship um top 30, which is always I feel like every player’s goal um at the start of the year. So, um, anytime you can grab some extra points, it’s it’s great. And, uh, um, you know, they’re they’re tough when you’re on the outside and and watching others play in it, but, um, it’s it’s really nice when you’re playing it yourself. What’s the pressure like, you know, on a Sunday afternoon in these PGA Tour events kind of at this point in your career? Um, it depends. Um obviously you’re going to have nerves and some anxiety um performance anxiety kind of um playing on that Sunday if you’re playing really well. Um but I I think um everyone’s going through that um when when we’re playing out here on Sunday. So um hopefully you can kind of use it to your advantage and and uh play some play some really good golf. And I I feel like in the past I’ve been able to play well in contention. It’s just been whether it’s just been trying to get into that position in the first place um Thursday through Saturday. Um but I’ve always felt like I can I can um handle that um decently well. Is it just kind of like having your own vision to kind of get through those three days and figure, okay, I got to position like a chess match to kind of get there. Yeah, it’s just, you know, it’s just um golf is just a hard game, so you always have ups and downs. Um, you know, hopefully you can catch um catch the ups and just ride as for as long as you can. Um, but uh, you know, who knows? Um, you know, game feels decent. I took a couple weeks off um, since Hilton Head, which is nice and hopefully I can get right back onto it. Are you heading to Oakmont here in a month and a half? Um, we’ll see. I still I’m still not in yet. Um, I think it’s I need to be within top 60 world rankings after PGA. Um, and you know, hopefully a one nice week or a couple good weeks in this in these upcoming two weeks would be would be a great start. If you do go through final qualifying, what is that anxiety like or just that challenge overall? Like it’s it’s it’s a long day. It’s 36 holes. Um, it’s it’s either um I’ve done it in Dallas or in Ohio uh depending on if I’m playing Memorial. Um I I you know if I take that day as if I get into the open that’s that’s great but um if I don’t it’s another week off and um try to get my game right for for the next event. How many times have you qualified through final stages of qualifying? Uh twice. Once in 2013 for um in Marian which is close to here. Um and uh 2020 uh when whenever um LACCC was. Oh, 2023. Yeah, 2023. Um, so those are the two times I’ve qualified. Michael, appreciate the time and good luck here in Philly this week. Appreciate it.
