Ryder Cup ambitions and winning around the world with Matt Wallace

DP World & PGA Tour winner Matt Wallace joins Di Stewart on the latest episode of Why Golf!

Matt explains what it was like to narrowly miss out on Ryder Cup selection again in 2025 and his ambition to play in 2027 at Adare Manor.

He also talks about what it was like to burst onto the professional golf scene with several wins in his first few seasons, and the methods he uses to bounce back from adversity on the golf course.

Plus, Matt reveals his close friendship with Justin Rose, someone he calls a mentor, and how important his parents were in his sporting journey.

The YOLF podcast is brought to you by Skyscanner, the ultimate travel hack that searches billions of prices on flights, hotels, and cars so you can feel confident you’ll always find an amazing deal. Hello and welcome to YOLF brought to you by Skyscanner. This week we are at the home of the DP World Tour, Wentworth Golf Club. And it’s also a home for Matt Wallace who’s won five times on the DP World Tour and he’s made no secret of the fact he wants to be involved in a Ryder Cup. Just missed out on the 2025 one, but he’s here. He’s ready to talk to us. Let’s go find him. How is your body right now? How are you feeling physically? You’re on a juice cleanse. Yeah, I’m on a juice cleanse. I’ve been eating lots of food. Last week I was away. It’s my first This is my first two weeks off in the whole year. So, um been a big push for the RDER Cup, which obviously didn’t come off. So, first two weeks off, had last week off, uh really nice. And then this week, I’m getting ready for uh playing over on the PJ tour again. Uh so, body’s feeling good. I haven’t had any injuries this year. I’ve had a few uh mind injuries probably uh a few bits and bobs going on. Um but managed to kind of overcome those in the middle of the season. So yeah, no, all good. Oh, there’s so so many different talking points. Uh, in terms of this year, obviously the major one which you’ve spoken a lot about is the Ryder Cup and we saw that really emotional interview at the Amigga European Masters and I think probably your fan base probably quadrupled whatever because it we like to see we want to see emotion. We want to see what it means to you and we know how much it means to you. Um, how are you feeling right now about the whole scenario? Yeah, it’s been a it’s been a strange one. Obviously, I’ve I’ve done the campaign a few times and missed out every time, obviously. Um, but this one felt different this year. It felt um because it was I I got off to a really good start at the end of last year and I was in a good position. Didn’t have a great start on the PJ tour. Managed to turn it around and then felt like I was going well up until the end. So, um, going back to Kron where I remember get the phone call from Thomas Bejorn in 2018 where I missed out. Um, I then lo a playoff up in Kron a couple years ago and then I won it last year and then I was second this year. So, I’ve had all the emotions in Kron. I mean, it’s it’s a place where Yeah. You’ve really felt every emotion. I felt every emotion and then obviously got the phone call from Luke again after finishing second this year. M um in my defense, which I was really proud of, really really proud to um give it my all and and then get the phone call from Luke and it was it was I I had the phone call after I did the interview. So it was it wasn’t before and then the interview came about. So um Luke saw the interview and and was obviously um was good good to me. It was nice. Um just again it you come up just short if you don’t make it automatically in these sort of things. you’re left to to someone else to make that decision. So, how do I feel about it? I feel disappointed. I feel like I could have played a bit better throughout the middle of the season, um, which would have put me in a better position, but, you know, it’s really hard. It’s cutthroat. It’s it’s it is. And, you know, having those ifs and buts is um, you’re always going to have those in the back of your mind, but ultimately, you gave it 110%. did everything you thought was possible and just brilliant performance in that second European. Luke, how many hours after did he call you? Um, I was back in the hotel, so it wasn’t too long after. Um, but I mean, it’s a really difficult thing for him to do, isn’t it? I try and put myself in his shoes and go, “How long do you leave it? Do you just get it done?” You know? Um, yeah, it’s a hard situation. It was probably about half an hour after I did that interview where um everyone knows me as I’m emotional guy. I’m not going to lie about anything. I’ll tell the truth to any question that’s asked asked of me. Um what was interesting was Gabby was asking me the questions and I knew Ryder Cup would come up, but I didn’t expect myself to react like that. Yeah. And so that was instantly like I I just couldn’t control myself. Yeah. And um yeah, I look back now and I go, okay, raw emotion, that’s what the Ryder Cup means to me. It’s the one event that I just want to play. And I fully support the European team because I want to be there and I’d want the next time at a dare Mana if I make it the person to miss out to be the same as myself to always back the team and always uh be part of team Europe. So yeah, fingers crossed I can give the next campaign Yeah. the best again. 110% like say that’s that’s all that matters definitely. So you know you’re probably in your mind you’re thinking right a cup qualification begins again very soon. It’s that’s the next plan isn’t it? Yeah it’s hard to kind of put it into your schedule about when do you start thinking about that? I I spoke to my team um who’s your team? So my manager Graeme Graeme Chase who’s been with me um ever since I was at ISM, he came along with me. So I’ve been with him now must be eight, nine years. And he just knows me like knows me like a brother and um instantly after we missed out on the Ryder Cup. It was maybe two or three days before like right what’s next? So it was him, him, my caddy Jamie Lane, uh my psychologist, uh Jonah, uh from Australia who came on board during that difficult period when I was struggling throughout the year and he’s been amazing. So he’s really helped me out. Um in what ways he helped you as a sort of management skills of Yeah. Well, more the understanding of my brain. Um so I need a bit of that. Yeah. Yeah. Well, everyone does from what I’ve started to learn, especially in in high intensity anything, sport, business, jobs, anything. I was obviously struggling with my putting throughout the start of the year this year on the PJ tour. I yeah I just I was struggling and I didn’t know where from and then it just started to kind of roll in uh to it started s a little bit of end of last year then I felt like I got rid of it and then went over to Tory Pines where yeah it was it was a mess. So I tried to get out of that and didn’t understand how to get out of it. And then that’s why I brought on uh Jonah who really got to the crux of it and um I had a what we came to the conclusion that I had sort of like a an anxiety to the outcome. Uh so I was scared about missing and probability because I know the stats so well. The closer I got to the hole Yeah. the worse it became a little bit um because it was like the expectation I should hold it and then it just this one I should 70% should get in or whatever I should I should be holding this 85% of the PJ tour hold it from here. Oh so all those stats in your brain are so that’s not great but I um yeah so that was that was for about So how did So what did Jonah sort of what was his message to you to overcome that? um two things basically. He was about making your decision. Mhm. And then executing a good putt because you’re either going to make it or you’re going to miss it. So it’s not it’s not ifs or buts. And he said he says don’t be half pregnant like you’re going to be pregnant. Yeah. Right. So let’s procrastination isn’t it of when you approach a putt. So that’s your decision. Make the decision 100%. Put a good stroke on it and then and that’s it. Yeah. So, if you can can do those two things, um, a lot of it was also about my speed. Um, I I I’ve never thought about speed in my head. It’s always been quite natural, but I was struggling with my speed a bit as well. So, I had to reingrain the speed element to putting in. So, there’s a lot of things that go on, you know, but ultimately once you’re practicing, I became really good through this time as well, just being very diligent in my practice that I was doing the same things over and over again. And so when I went onto the putting onto the green in tournament, it was kind of like I was just going to hit a normal putt, you know, like I’ve been doing all the time. So I’ve managed to turn that around quite well. Um there’s obviously moments during rounds where you feel cautious or a bit of anxiety, but I’ve got the what Jon has been great, he’s given me some sort of methods as to how to deal with those things. And I’ve played majors this year and I remember playing with Adam Scott at the PGA on the Sunday. First time playing with him there, one of my idols. And yeah, I I three putted the first hole on the Sunday and I’m in contention to win and I missed a three-foot putt, but I was fine because I’ve had the understanding of what I needed to do um in that situation when I felt a little bit jittery or something like that. So, bit of breathing techniques and getting into my process of right, what am I thinking about over this next one? Okay, that’s my read. I’m going to hit a really good putt here. I’m going to roll it. Great. And then I hold a putt on the second and I was in straight away. Oh, yeah. Brilliant. So, breathing techniques, breath work. That’s been important. Yes. He gave me a new one. Obviously, I used to do the box breath. Uh, so 6 seconds or 3 seconds, whichever seconds you want to put to it, but that would really help me be present. But then he introduced sippy breath where I’d inhale as much as I can and then you sip at the end because you can have a little bit more. Yeah. And then breathe it out nice and slow. And it everything would just make me a little bit more grounded. in in those moments where you know your mind’s racing and I can see myself on TV from when I first came out on tour. I can actually watch myself and go wow that guy’s I can see why now everyone used to think of me as like angry person on the golf course and man he’s so amped up because I was like that. I had no filter. I was like on the golf course just absolutely um pretty crazy. Well, you didn’t go any other way. No, I just that’s how I came out on tour and that was it. But I’ve learned now that that’s probably not the best way to play golf. So I’m able to put into um on the golf course just doing the cuz you got so much time between shots sometimes. Maybe not on the green as much but from tea to to green you’ve got a load of time to put these things into place. So yeah, it’s been really helpful. Absolutely fascinating. I mean, you see you’ll see it up close and personal every different personality out on the golf course and people’s the the way they are. You just see their character traits come out, don’t you? How do you find it um when you’re on the course? You mentioned that three putt for instance with Adam Scott, not to selfpersecute because that’s so many pros do. That’s the hardest thing sometimes is that you’re just telling yourself these stories and you’re telling yourself you’re not good enough or you don’t want to do it again and you have a three-footer on the next. What are you saying to yourself? Oh, I missed that last one. So, there’s so many things in golf which are so hard to overcome. But that’s what I what I think experience is. And I look at someone like Adam that day and I’m just like, this guy’s been out on tour for years, seen everything, done everything. Yeah, he’s probably still learning about himself. Still learning because golf throws up new things all the time. But I feel like he would be in a best position to learn from past where he can deal with that better. So that’s why I I look at some of the top pros where I can go, okay, I can be more like that. Yeah. Interesting. Where I go, okay, yeah, I can I can learn from my past and I would like to implement what I did then or change what I did then and add what I know now to make myself better. Yeah. And that was a great learning for me. And I I’ll write those things down in a book and I’ll go, okay, yeah, I remember three putting the first hole and then going through that process over the next putt and holding it and then I had a decent day. I finished 17th, but I that could that first three putt could have derailed me five, six years ago where I don’t have these new um sort of understandings of h how to deal with it now. Yeah, it’s it’s so great that you you’re learning from players all the time. Um I always look at body language. I would always it’s so remarkable when I see players walk on a first tier for instance what comes to mind uh Soulheim Cup and the girls walking on um and I I I mean I played very junior golfer golf whatever county golf um and I was always panicky and flighty and they walk on with such demeanor and presence and you see it in you know the men’s game as well that that presence of body language it’s so important do you Think about your body as you’re walking onto the tea and how you hold yourself. I I don’t personally, which probably is another step that I possibly could do. Um Well, I’ll just take% from Yeah, that’s Yeah, you have to teach me what I need to do, though. Rory talks about it a lot, you know, and he talks about looking above the horizon and everything. And Rory’s got that quite bouncy step and um you say he’s he’s quite a good golfer. So maybe he’s all right, isn’t he? He’s not too bad. What have the guys been like actually you know since do you have a best mate on tour? Um it’s you hang out with Yeah. It’s difficult to have best mates I want to be the whole time. Yeah. That you compete against all the time but on the Rally Cup I’m close with quite a lot of them but Tier um even though he left me to go to live. Um, but yeah, still quite Yeah, we we still chat and and I try and keep in touch with with everyone and I wish them best of luck. Like Raasmus, the two twins are Yeah, they’re just going to be superstars for the rest of their lives cuz they’re so good. So, um, but I’ve seen on your like your Instagram you get responses from like Rosie and people saying Justin’s like my mentor, I’d say. Um, he’s awesome, isn’t he? Yeah, he’s great. Yeah. and he he speaks so well, you know, and he’s I just find I find his career mesmerizing. Like you can you can he’s always told me you’re going to play well four times a year where you’re in contention. And just for him to I remember I was he was the first guy I shared a car with at a golf tournament when I was a pro. Was he? And this was Abu Dhabi 2018. And he just gave me like two or three nuggets in that car journey. And that’s why he’s always been like my my guy, my mentor. And now we’re at Wentworth and and I’m able to see him up here and we live close and uh we’re playing tournaments, but I just find the way he prepares himself for tournaments and he only really wants to win the big ones, you know. He yeah he wants to win everything but the Masters the Open I think he finished top 15 and then he won uh the FedEx Centu and he’s in the Ryder Cup again you know and and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there at a dare playing in two years time you know again so he’s got his hyperbaric chambers and all sorts hasn’t he been in his not a Winnie Vo if you’ve been in his I haven’t been in it but I’ve seen it and um yeah he’s an old man so we need it I can’t him up too much, can I? No, you can’t. You can’t. But my goodness, he’s fit as a fiddle, isn’t he? Really? What were the nuggets in the car in Abu Dhabi? So, yeah. So, the you’re going to play well four times a year, so be ready for that. Okay. And then he talk spoke about like during golf tournament. So, four round tournament. He said you’re guaranteed to have a purple patch, right? Guaranteed. So, just be try and be as patient as you can until those moments. It’s hard to do that because obviously if you’re around the cut line early in the first two days, it’s hard to stay patient. But if you can then make the cut somehow and then you’re going to find your purple patch. So he normally talks about like nine 10 holes. So yeah, little running joke between us. It’s always about purple patches, but some people don’t understand it. They probably think we’re Oh, it’s in in joke. It’s quite fun to have an in joke with Rosie. Awesome. Listen, it’s you’ve had a really fascinating career because you came on onto the scene, what was it, 2016 and had a sort of flurry of wins that you won in 2017 on the DP World Tour for the first time and then then three wins in 2018. So, it was like sort of win win. Yeah. H I mean, how did that feel and did it feel quite easy at the time? Yeah. So, I I don’t know how, but I ever since I was on the Alps tour and I was younger, obviously slightly late to bloomer compared to some of the youngsters that come out on tour. Um, but I spent four years. I started when I was like eight and nine years old, but I played all sports. My parents were both PE teachers, uh, very sporty family, but I played all sports and then golf kind of took over when I was 16, 17. Had a couple years out cuz I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Um, and then I went over to university in America for a year. Yeah. Uh, to Jacksonville State in Alabama, uh, the middle of nowhere. But I think my parents wanted me to do that. So then I could stay out of mischief a little bit. Uh, yeah. Having two years out, I didn’t really do much. I played a bit of golf and I worked um, a a clothing company which allowed us to go out and party for a little bit. Was that that was quite fun. Yeah, it was fun, but it was pointless. No, there was nothing. There was no there was nothing for me to Did you get 20% off clothes or something? I got a lot. Okay, great. So, you look good. Yeah, I look good and but there was no end point for me. Yeah, exactly. What is the point? But I I I guess I enjoyed myself. But also my friends at the time just finishing university, getting houses, moving out at home, and there’s me at home with my parents going, “What am I twiddling my thumbs? What am I going to do?” So yeah, managed to find a college that would take me. Um, and then I was playing some decent golf over there, but I didn’t I wasn’t looking back now. I was good, but I wasn’t that good. you know, made the England uh set up in when I was 21 uh in 2011 and then didn’t make um the England France game uh which frustrated me because in the email it was whoever finishes highest in the Litham trophy will get the last spot and I finished the highest out of the England English boys and I didn’t make the the spot. So yeah, that was my first sort of like Yeah, that was my first understanding of leaving things up to someone else to choose your fate, right? That was like my first real dealing with it. I had it in cricket a little bit, but that’s what happens in team sports. So, turning pro was my next step because then no one was in control of my career. So, I turned pro and then I spent three years really grinding on the Alps tour, not really doing anything. Um, keeping my card, but never really taking that step in the top five to get my challenge tour status. Yeah. And then I changed my coach uh to who I still have now. We’ve obviously had a bit of time apart, but back with Matt Belcham and yeah, we won uh six times on the Alps tour in 2016, which was kind of Yeah, that was pretty some kind of record. Yes, quite a strong record there. It might last for a while. Um but that was great. That’s incredible golf. Yeah, I played What did Matt say to you? I don’t know. We need to revisit that, don’t we? Um, no. I knew I knew I was good enough to win there. I just my technique let me down. That was my I I knew what I wanted to do. I feel that’s what I knew what I needed to do. I needed my technique to under pressure stand up. And so whenever I struggle in big tournaments, I know it’s due to my technique because my mentally I feel pretty good. Um, and I can deal with it a lot more than than some people. Sometime some people let them it gets to them a little bit more does whereas now I feel like I can deal with a lot of situations and if my technique is good enough I can deal with the the pressure. So yeah 2016 was a big change and then 17 I won um a co-sanctioned event um which I got an invite for. I didn’t even qualify because uh it was half the European tour, half a challenge tour and then I won that to get myself onto the European tour within two weeks. Amazing. I remember. And then 2018 was just a brilliant year. Yeah. Won three times. And uh yeah, looking back now, oh, I just keep winning. It’s so easy. Golf is so easy. Yeah, it it felt as though I missed a lot of cuts that year, right? And this is where I felt like I got the reputation of being a little bit too brash, too like hard. Uh because I couldn’t understand how I could win and then miscut. I just didn’t understand the es and flows of it all. And um want to be good all the time. Yeah. I wanted to be good all the time. So I was kind of a little bit too hotheaded and a little bit I didn’t I didn’t get the understanding of failure. Yeah. So that was a big learning curve for me in 2018. And then 19 was probably my best year statistically that I’ve ever had. I didn’t win once. Um, it’s amazing how my career’s gone and now I feel like I’m in way more control of my emotions and dealings with things that I can, you know, miscut stings. Yeah. And it hurts and not playing great hurts. But it’s what happens. And I always remember what Rosie says, you’re going to play well four or five times. Yeah. It’s so wonderful how these things can help you so much and just change your perspective completely. The YOLF podcast is brought to you by Skyscanner, the ultimate travel hack that searches billions of prices on flights, hotels, and cars so you can feel confident you’ll always find an amazing deal. So, you you play on the PJ tour and the, you know, the crowds are quite different to playing in Europe. What do you expect from the crowds in America? What will the European team face? I think Luke’s done a great job. Obviously, I was part of the whole process up until the final decision to who’s going to make the team. So, I’ve been part of the process to know that Luke’s done a great job to prepare everyone for what’s going on. When you say you’re part of the process, so you you speak to you’ve spoken to there were emails, we did events uh where we all got together and and did bits. So, no stone unturned from the European point. So anyone watching, you can you know that Luke’s done everything possible to make the team ready and to go and win cuz as Rory said, it’s the hardest probably the hardest thing to do is win an away rider cup. But the good thing about this team is the continuity of of of from the last time apart from Raasmus changing out for Nikolai, but Raasmus was there driving the cart around so he gets it. I was there working as well. I was I was working doing some commentary there. So that was I wanted to experience it. So then if I did make the next one Yeah. Um I kind of understood it. Thank you. Yeah. Did you enjoy it? Yeah, I did the commentary. Yeah, it was hard though. Yeah, it’s hard. We got really tough jobs and Yeah, you do good. You’re very good at it. And I I the the bit that I struggled with was Schoffé and Sheffller. Oh, I know, right? I think that’s always Sheffller. Yeah, I get it wrong. I got it wrong a lot, but nobody knew because it was radio, so it’s fine. You’re brilliant. Yeah, thanks. Oh dear. I sometimes think that no one’s watching. We can get away with it just with a few know deep down you know and at night time you go home and you think I I got that wrong. Um but no being part of it it’s it’s obviously wet the appetite and I’m sure a dare manner two years time we’re crossing fingers and toes for you Matt but we’re we’re really excited to see this European team. Just thinking about your going back to, you know, bursting out onto the scene, winning, then winning again in Cron in 2023. This sort of roller coaster existence on tour. You feel like you’re in a pretty pretty good place now mentally. Do you have goals that you set yourself for the next 12 months? I mean, have you looked at your schedule now? You’re off to America, aren’t you? Yeah. I didn’t finish before what you’re saying about the team and stuff. So, yeah, speak to my team and then we’re going to come up with what’s next. So this next period is obviously until the end of this year. Yeah. And then once this year’s finished, then we can go again. So I don’t like those shorter term goals. I like quite longer term ones. And then if I can cuz they’re the things that get me up in the morning. So Ryder Cup this year was I’ve never felt the the energy like that um in my body every single morning. It’s hard to describe to somebody, isn’t it? I mean, we can only imagine. Yeah. Something that you just want to achieve in life. Adrenaline rush as well of I would be in the gym with my trainer and he’d just say the word ride a cup and I would just get this adrenaline rush. Yeah. And I’d be pushing pushing hard and it was I would get through the pain barrier just because I know if I’m doing it this step it’s a step towards it and it’s like those extra bits. So, but then again, I’ve I’ve kind of double I I double guess myself sometimes. Is it do I think about it too much? Do I want it too much? Um, but I’ve spoken to enough people to know that you can’t want it too much. You know, you can’t want something like the Ryder Cup too much. So, um I I see the way that Shane is and when his first one and uh lost the last one, the first one that he played in and wanted to get back so bad at Rome and he got it back and look at him like now he just he’s wants it so much. So, yeah, that those sort of things are the reasons why I have these longer term goals are the reason so that I can wake up in the morning and focus towards something. And do you feel like that team environment would give you something that you’ve not you’ve not had before? Yeah, I I grew up playing team sports and I loved them so much that I’ve craved them since school and since growing up playing all these these sports um cricket, hockey, football, rugby, uh just wanting to be in that environment and so like the team event in Zurich when we play, I played with Torbjorn uh this year and I love it. you know, just another partner that you can bounce off or another caddy and just get that energy. The energy is just double, you know, and I’m guessing the ride a cup is way more than double, you know. It’s sharing an experience. It’s sharing the experience. It’s just like nothing else. M when we won in cron like to share that with with Jamie my caddy and and Graeme who was there and then you share it with your family it’s like that’s the best feeling you can possibly have as a professional golfer and there’s professional golfers that go their whole career without winning. So I do need to I do need to recognize that. But as a rider cup I think I don’t know why but I think that’s why it’s higher on my list than say a major. Yeah. um that major is an individual aspect and I’d love to win one of course and I want to be in contention for some majors coming up. Um but I think a rider cup is the one that I want to experience the most because it just gets that energy inside of me higher than anything else. I was just thinking Nick Koulartz has been uh was on podcast last week and saying you know he’s not vice captain this time he was in Rome and he said the feeling I’ve just sort of bottled it up and kept all the energy from from Rome and it’s something I’ve never experienced before and he wants to be back doing it. He’s going to go out and do some telly and bits and bobs, but he’s he’s upset that he’s not vice captain obviously, but he wants to be he’s going to be amongst it for a couple of days and doing bits and bobs. But I think for us, you know, fans, golf fans, looking at it, we we’d all just crave to be in that environment and to just have a little part of that. Yeah. Um, and we crave to be in like a winner’s circle like you’ve experienced five times on the DP will tour. Just wondering how long that how long the feelings last for after a win. It’s like, okay, stop time now because this is amazing. Can we just I’ve always I’ve always told the story of like when I won in India, which was my first full European tour win. It was like, yeah, I won in Portugal, which got me out onto European tour. it counts towards a European tour win. But India was like the affirmation of like actual I actually won the proper one and then you carry on doing that. But in India I remember winning in the playoff against beef and had dinner that evening obviously had curry uh that evening but then I mean it was amazing. Um, but then it was that from I remember 1:00 am in the morning until about 4:00 a.m. reading messages on my phone of congratulations and that feeling was the best feeling I’ve ever had. Really? So, it’s not about the the the win at the time is great and you your the euphoria you get from playing great golf shots under the gun and winning a tournament and being the best there that week. And then you start thinking about, okay, where can I go in the game? What do I want to achieve? But that sort of time where I’m on my own in the hotel room with the trophy and then reading the congratulations messages from Gary Player, Ernie L’s, you know, people you look up to and you’re like, “Wow, this is unbelievable.” Yeah. So I I I I probably would say the night and then the next day. Yeah. And then it kind of just slowly wilts out and then nobody really cares the next week onto another news story. There’s the next the next week. Um no people will always care cuz if you’ve won no one can take that away from you. Exactly. Yeah. I think I think if you play the week after then it then you kind of get over it a bit quicker because you’re into another tournament. Um so if I can ever win again um it would be nice to have a week off. Yeah, I do I do feel like I will, you know, I do feel like I’m I’m getting better. And I know that’s crazy, but I really do feel like I’m getting better and I’m learning quicker. I’m uh understanding situations way better. And I feel like I’ve got a pretty good beat on a lot of things. I just need to keep working hard, keep finding those those long-term goals that I can push towards, which help me try and get better, you I think a lot of people see that development in you massively so especially this year. It’s been great to watch and also to show the emotion and the BMW PJ you played here. Yeah. Um played in the proam with some mates of ours. Yeah. Who did you play with Phil? Yeah. Played with the captain this year, Brady, ex captain Phil Leonard and uh Jane who’s the lady captain. And then John, her husband is going to is the vice captain. So, um, yeah, had the whole group. Yeah, the whole group. And supportive network here. Amazing. I’ve I still think it’s the best golf club in the UK. So, apologies to everyone else, but I still think it’s the best golf club in the UK purely on the fact that everyone here absolutely loves golf. I don’t think you can go to a golf club where everyone loves golf so much and it’s the best. And all I ever want to do up here is give them something to cheer for, you know. And if I can somehow get into contention at a PJ at some point, I know the crowds will be unbelievable cuz I hear them and I see them. And whenever I play a golf tournament, you can see people, but you can’t see the faces. And I don’t know if it’s similar to you when you’re doing something in a a huge audience, but you see people, but you don’t see their face. So, it’s like a blur. Yeah, but during Wentworth week I can see the people I know and so it’s like the support I get here is really special and uh yeah it’s a it’s a really cool place to be a part of and having that backing as well also boys you on doesn’t it makes you want to as you say yeah you want to give something back and um they support their champions amazing so Alex Noran won this year and for the second time and the support that he gets I know he’s a good friend of mine he’s the one I didn’t talk about much, but he’s a really good friend. We talk a lot and the support he gets from the club is really, really special. Oh, that’s really good to hear. Just going back to your parents, your dad was, so he was a rugby player, played for Wasps back in the day. Back in the day. Wasp rugby union club and your mom was a PE teacher and very sporty. Very sporty. Yeah. Triple jump and hockey. Field hockey. Yeah. Brilliant. Yeah. Very cool. She taught me how to play hockey. Uh I remember going to Ordinum School. um doing their sports day to get my scholarship that I needed to to play hockey for. And I remember she was teaching me in the back garden uh the day before the sports scholarship day and obviously I was hitting it with the back of the stick like just moving it and she’s like, “No, no, you can’t do that.” I was like, “What do you mean?” So, she taught me all the the moves and yeah, ended up being captain of the the school three years later. So, goodness. Yeah, I I somehow picked it up. But she was she’s a great teacher and she was very good at what she did and we had a great team and it’s a really good sport that I think it’s an energetic sport. Quick, fast, um aggressive. It is aggressive. I got smacked in the face when I was Yeah. res I was reserved for the first team. I normally play for the second team at school. So you weren’t even playing. I wasn’t even playing and the ball ricocheted from the top of the D and I tried to avoid it. Oh straight into it. black cheek went straight to hospital. Well, thanks. I always prefer the camera this side. Um, went straight to hospital. It blew up. They thought I’d fractured my cheekbone, but I hadn’t. But it’s a dangerous game, hockey. I mean, we’ve had a few teeth knocked out in our in our team back in the day. We didn’t used to wear gum shields. No. That’s crazy. Yeah. I mean, ridiculous. Oh, just go play hockey. Exactly. I mean, you’re all your head is always down as well, isn’t it? Surely we need a shield. close to the floor. So I know any other sports that you could have possibly played professionally. Cricket was my main sport. Yeah, cricket was I was probably rugby after your dad. No, exactly. What position did your dad play? He was winginger, fullback. Okay. Center, but um yeah, his career ended pretty briefly. I think he was playing for London Welsh at the time. Uh and so Ian McGee, yes. Um was fly half, my dad was winger. Okay. kicked him through and he’s running down the wing and he snapped his Achilles and yeah, my my auntie was in the stadium and she heard it snap. So that’s how loud it was. Yeah. And he fell down. So he didn’t play rugby again for a while. Oh, what’s your dad called? Steve. Oh, Steve. Steve. Is Steve a golfer? Yeah, he loves it. Yeah. I mean, the problem with my dad is when people know he’s my dad. He’s quite aggressive on the golf course as well. So, they go I I’ve got to tell him, “Dad, you can’t do that cuz then it likens me to you and I’ll see where he gets it from now and stuff like that.” So, yeah. No, but he’s uh really good chipper. Um Okay. And he’s he’s had a few back operations, so his golf’s kind of gone like that. And when he’s when he’s got a bit older, but he still loves it. still gets out to the golf course pretty much every day. So yeah, he really he really he really enjoys it. So and it’s good for my mom cuz he’s out of the house. Okay. So it’s good. Does she not play? She doesn’t because she doesn’t want to be around my dad. I think so. I think we all need time out every now and then. So you could have been a professional cricketer though. Well, I feel like I could. That could have been another route to go down. Yeah, my caddy Jamie whenever we play with cricketers and I’m quite close with a few of them. Um played with Johnny Beesto quite a bit and my caddy goes to Johnny. you’re lucky he chose golf because you wouldn’t have a job. That’s basically what he says in this nonsense. Um but yeah, I really enjoyed cricket. I was wicked keeper batsman and uh I yeah, I loved it. I really really enjoyed it. And again that team environment quite individual at the crease when you’re batting. So kind of like that aspect as well where wicket keeper you’re always in the game and it’s a team environment but cricket I as a batter you have to be quite um selfish and it’s similar to golf. Um, but golf was always like my release of anything I put into the game, I would get out rather than in the in cricket, anything I put in, we could still lose and there would be people that didn’t care as much as I did. And so that would be that would really irritate me. Um, so yeah, I’m sensing the you’re liking the control of things, which but you’re letting go of control. Yeah, control. I liked the control of what I did and then I would get the the result from that. Um, and I just didn’t I didn’t enjoy like it was say to say school football like nothing that really actually mattered. Uh, I’d lose a few friends over it because I I wouldn’t understand why they wouldn’t train as hard as I did. Got you. Because ultimately it was for our best interest which was to win and play. why you not training as much. Yeah. But they had a bigger picture where it was like this doesn’t matter to me. I’m doing playing football to enjoy it. So yeah, I understand that now. Whereas at the time I didn’t. But then that led me into golf more where I would go and practice loads and I’d be like, right, I’m putting loads of effort in here because I want to reap the rewards somewhere down the line potentially. So I’ve still got that aspect of re working really hard because I really want um to achieve things in the game. Yeah. Yeah, you see that. Just thinking about um the two tours you play on, PJ and DP World Tour, which one do you prefer playing on? I prefer playing the DP World Tour for the lifestyle and traveling the world and the different cultures and the food and yeah, it’s it’s the best place to be because you get to travel the world and see the most beautiful places whilst playing golf and traveling. America for that is too sy. It’s very easy. Um, I mean, you could have Chipotle every single night if you really wanted to, wherever you play, which isn’t a bad thing, by the way. I really So, Chipotle, if you’re listening, quite happy to uh do something with you. Um, he’s available. Yes. Uh, but yeah, I mean to go from Paris to Copenhagen. Yeah. It’s pretty cool. That’s that’s a real good good lifestyle. So, I’m very lucky in that sense. Culturally stimulating. Yeah. So, and you’re you’re excited, you know. Um, sometimes I’m not as excited to go to some some spots on the PJ tour, but inside the ropes on the PJ tour, there’s probably nothing better. You condition of the golf courses, the competition, the fans. Uh, yeah, it’s it’s pretty special over there. And at the moment, um, I’m just thinking about you mentioned food and DP Wiltor and going around Europe. You can’t eat at the moment. No, cuz you’re on a juice cleanse. I’m on a juice cleanse for a few days. Coffee next to you. Um, how’s the juice cleanse going? And are you enjoying it? Terrible. And no, I think that’s the I don’t know. I’m not sure I will ever agree with someone who goes, “Yes, great. And I love it.” How many days is it for? Three. Are you doing it with Emily, your partner? Yeah. Right. So, a three-day. I know she’s very disciplined. She’ll stick to it. Will you stick to I’m adamant to stick to it for the next couple days. Um, so what have you got to look forward to tonight then? Oh, another lean green machine thing. Sounds good, right? You showed it me before. It’s kale and celery. Kale, celery. I mean, at least there’s a little bit of lemon and ginger in there, but no, it’s not. There’s no joy right now. Can I just say the reason we’re doing it is cuz we’ve just come back on holiday from holiday and eating our world in meat and fish and everything. So, it seems the right time to do it and get get ourselves mentally back into the game. Um, and then we’ll have some food at the end of the week. Yeah. Listen, I like the way you operate. You go for it. You and Emily enjoy life. Go and enjoy your holiday and then come back and persecute yourself with a juice club. Yeah. Exactly. Just absolutely destroy ourselves and for another few be a bit grumpy with each other and then you can go back to normal. You know what? I don’t know why the decision was made on the final day of the holiday. And it was like, did you order it together? Yeah. To have it there the next day. So, it’s like a I was in Prime Delivery. Exactly. It was kind of like torture yourself for having such a great time. I love it. You made me giggle. Honestly, Matt, we have got to that point in the podcast where we’re going to ask you three Clubhouse curveball questions. Okay. Um, if you could play a fourball with three Manchester United footballers, past or present, who would you pick? Very good. Cuz you’re a Manu fan. Yes. Um, well, I know there’s obviously we’ve had a lot of them here at at the BMW in the ProAm. Um, and I’ve somehow I don’t know how, but we’re friendly with Paul Skulls. Oh, yeah. Amazing. I played with Lee Sharp at the Belelfrey the other week. He was brilliant. Great golfer as well. Really good golfer. Plays every day, I think. But I’m going to choose people I haven’t I’d love to have a day with Sir Alex. I’ve never met him. I’d love to share wine with him. That would be great. Um, can I can I resort to saying David Beckham? I don’t know. I don’t know if he plays. So, I’ve never seen him like pick up a club or anything or do you know, we’re going to find out. You know what I mean? Yeah, let’s try and find out. So, Beex, Sir Alex. Be interesting to put them all into a room together as well. Uh, one more. Um, someone classy. Let’s go. Uh, let’s go. Yap stam. Yeah, good choice. Like that. I’d like some stories. Some Yeah. Yeah. I reckon I could we could help out with this Ferguson. Oh, yeah. Okay, great. Yeah, definitely. Cuz he or he loves loves his golf. Okay. Uh, you’ve hit a hole in one in your career. This is a two-part question. Did you buy everyone a drink in the clubhouse and if you could hit another hole in one at any course in the world, what would it be? Where would it be? Uh, so I did it at the PGA Championship. uh at Bel Reeve and I bought everyone the whole media and caddies uh I put beers out. Oh, well done. Yeah, well done. You can’t be that PJ championship major. It’s hard to buy everyone around, isn’t it? So, I think I’ll just I’ll just stick to the the media center and um the caddy lounger. Yeah, good stuff. Um I mean, if you could hit another one at any course, where would it be? Uh let’s go the second hole here at Wentworth BMW. That would be nice. I bet you’ve almost done it there. I have almost, but I’ve never done it up here. Okay, we’ll wait until you do. And what’s the most unique thing that we’d find in your golf bag when you’re playing around? One thing my caddy will definitely say that’s not in there is coins because we’re always scrging for ball markers. On the first hole, he’s walking down the edges to the fans, “Anyone got a coin? Anyone got a coin?” You won’t Yeah, you won’t find coins in my bag. Um, nothing. No, nothing crazy. I mean, I used to have like a pharmacy in there. I’d have all the sprays. All the Yeah, but Jamie got rid of them. It’s too heavy to carry, obviously. Um, you just have back. It’s fine. So, Mozzy spray. It’s always in the bag. All right. Okay. Good one. God, you need it. Yeah, you need the mornings at some places, especially where in America. America mainly. Yeah. And they get quite big, aren’t they? Big mozzies. Yeah, they look sort of I don’t know. They’ve been Can’t be having those. Industrialized or something. One little tip, spray it under the hat and then they don’t come. Oh, okay. Good to know. Ruins your hat, but good to know. Um, I’ve got a couple actually. Best golf course you’ve ever played. Um, Pebble Pebble Beach. Yeah, pretty special. Yeah, that was cool. I probably got a top 10, but that’s one of them. As a golf, as a the f there’s a few holes that are just a bit me, but it’s unbelievable. It is special. It was a really special golf course and that I’ve only played it once and I played it in the major in um US Open when uh Gary Woodland won. Okay. Uh but that was pretty special. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? Yeah. I remember when GMAC won. Yeah. And um I was second reporter at the time. So I had to interview the person who finished second. Can you remember who finished second to Graeme McD? You won’t remember. It was Gregory A. Oh, was it Greg? Yeah, it was. Yeah. with the long hand. I was going to say Tiger. I’m sure he was he was up there. He wasn’t in somewhere. Yeah. No, that would have been fun. That would have been fun. Well, it was with Gregory as well, but it’s Well, you’ve just missed out. Thank you so much, Matt. Now, listen, our podcast is called Why Golf? Um, and just to sum up, um, why do you think people should get involved in this amazing sport? Well, that’s a good question. Um, if you’re if you’re new to golf, honestly, that that whenever I talk to any newbies in golf, I go like that sensation of hitting one good golf shot up in the air, you struck it well, it goes towards where you’re trying to aim it. You don’t get that same feeling. It’s not It’s not like you can go temping bowling and throw it down there and get a strike or do that often. Hitting that one shot is like a golden nugget and you’re always searching for that. and I’m still searching for those golden nuggets all the time. Um, it’s a great way of exercising, uh, communicating. I you very rarely do you get three or four hours with someone new, and you can do that on the golf course. So, in business, it’s a brilliant place to to spend time together. Um, I’ve met some of the most incredible people through golf. amazing friends, people I I’ve got friends in America now who I love my wine, so sharing wine with them whilst going play golf, bit of wine afterwards, it’s it’s just I think it’s the best sport in the world because also it’s the hardest sport. Thank you for listening to YOLO brought to you by Skyscanner. Do not forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider and to follow us on Instagram. We’ll be back soon. [Music]