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An Interview with PGA Tour Golf Professional Nathan Green
By Tony | March 26, 2008
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Nathan Green and discuss life and times on the PGA Tour. Nathan is one of the many young Australian Professional Golfer`s making a name for themselves on the most competitive tour of them all, the PGA Tour in the United States.
Tony- Today I’m joined on the tee by Nathan Green who finished 67th on this years money list (2007) on the USPGA Tour. Firstly Nathan thank you for taking the time to share your experiences of life on the tour with us. Before making your way onto the PGA Tour in 2006 you played the various mini tours of Australia, 2 years on the Canadian tour and Nationwide Tour. How was that transition for you to the PGA Tour?
“I had a great start to the tour with 2 good finishes, and after that I felt I belonged, which was not always the case”.
Nathan- I had some success on the mini tours and the co- sanctioned events here in Australia, so when I joined the US Tour in 2006 I felt very comfortable being there. I had a great start to the tour with 2 good finishes, and after that I felt I belonged, which was not always the case. I struggled with that a little bit in my early days. But playing alongside Vijay Singh, Phil Mickleson and Jim Furyk in those first couple of tournaments and playing very well gave me a big boost of confidence for the rest of the year.
- Nathan’s first event on the PGA Tour in 2006 was the Sony Open in Hawaii where he finished T5th. His final round of 64 playing alongside Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk gave Nathan a great boost in self belief and a real sense of belonging on tour. Two weeks later he was in a playoff for the Buick open alongside Tiger Woods and Jose Maria Olazabal, where a bogie on the first playoff hole would see him finish T2nd with Jose Maria Olazabal.
Tony- Did you feel you needed to change any aspect of your game to compete on the PGA Tour?
“So a big part of my recent success is being able to trust my swing and game out there in competition”.
Nathan- No not really. As I said I got off to a good start and that made me feel very comfortable with my game. I am not a big technical player. I went down the technique path earlier and just found that I was not able to play as well as I could, always thinking about technique while I was out on course. So a big part of my recent success is being able to trust my swing and game out there in competition.
Tony- Are you currently working with any body on your game?
Nathan- No. I have been just doing it on my own now since the start of the year. I find I know my own game so well, so if things go off a little I can get myself back on track pretty quickly, where as before I was focusing too much on my technique which was affecting my on course play.
“The last couple of seasons I have been working on the mental aspect of my game”
Tony- Nathan what part of your game are you currently working on in regards to technique, physical fitness, strategy and the mental game?
Nathan- The last couple of seasons I have been working on the mental aspect of my game with Niel Smith. I really respect his advice and I find that working with someone who has been there, and understands what you are going through has been very helpful to me and my game.
“Now days I practice more the way I intend to play. I hit shots, shape the ball. Sometimes I will play the course of that week’s event on the range”
Tony- Can you share with us a typical daily training routine for you?
Nathan- I used to practice a lot more than I do now. I used to spend hours on the range hitting balls and working on aspects of my technique. Now days I practice more the way I intend to play. I hit shots, shape the ball. Sometimes I will play the course of that week’s event on the range. This is where Niel has been very influential in getting me to practice correctly. Before I would hit balls, putt, chip etc but with no real strategy or purpose. Now I am always working on hitting shots and giving myself little challenges and tests during a practice session. My practice sessions will change depending on what I feel I want to practice for that particular week.
Tony- How much time do you spend on your game from 100 yards in, putting and the around the green game.
“ I have good feel, and just practice my three wedge distances of 50m, 70m and 90m daily hitting to various targets”
Nathan- To be honest, I don’t do as much as I used to. I prefer to work on yardages with my wedges. I have good feel, and just practice my three wedge distances of 50m, 70m and 90m daily hitting to various targets. I will practice putting to develop good feel and play around the green for a while. But not as much as I did when I first turned professional.
Tony- Nathan thank you for taking the time to share your experiences on the tour with us and good luck for season 08.
Nathan- No worries, thanks Tone.
Nathan year so far on the PGA Tour
3 2008 The Honda Classic
T11 2008 Buick Invitational
T22 2008 Northern Trust Open
T30 2008 PODS Championship
T50 2008 FBR Open
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