Q:
What’s up next tournament wise?
Jay:
I’m leaving tomorrow morning for the John Deere Classic. The tournament director called Sunday night after the Travelers and offered an exemption. I’m really looking forward to it.
Q:
Has your Travelers finish taken some of the pressure off?
Jay:
Yes. I have to wake myself every morning and pinch myself. I can actually support my family playing this TOUR. This is where I’m comfortable.
Q:
Have you changed the way you prepare? Or does your day-to-day preparation stay the same?
Jay:
I have a set routine that I use in preparing for a tournament. Really, my day-to-day activities are set at home; we’re like any other busy family. I have to practice when I can and spend time with my wife and kids. That’s just the way it is when you travel like I do. During the week, I have my routine and that won’t change. I’m going to rely on the system that has helped me win this year and reach a playoff at the Travelers.
Q:
Jason Day [Nationwide Legend Financial Group Classic winner] is only 19 years old and has his entire life and golf career before him. What advice would you give him?
Jay:
You know that’s actually a good question because I did have the opportunity - I never played with him - but I had an opportunity to meet him on the range and talk to him and my advice to him two months ago was don’t change anything that you’re doing.
He’s a great kid; he’s obviously got a ton of talent. He’s one of the friendliest international players that I have ever met in my life. They have a tendency to be a little bit less outgoing. I think Jason Day is exactly the kind of person he should be. He is a real asset to golf.
Q:
How competitive is the game between players of different nationalities? Is there a sense of competitiveness?
Jay:
Oh, absolutely. Americans have gotten their brains beat in the Ryder Cup for who knows how many years - I’ve kind of lost count. You sprinkle that in, and then you sprinkle in the fact that there are a lot of different nationalities on the PGA TOUR. I would almost venture to guess that it’s almost half and half at this point. If there’s a 144 man field, I am going to guess that there are at least 70 guys from outside the United States. Obviously the American pros are a little bit jeopardized job-wise, and we definitely see that. Golf is a competitive game, there’s a lot of money at stake and then you start shrinking jobs and you start beating us at the Ryder Cup then there’s definitely going to be some – not animosity - just competition.
Q:
Would you say the competition is mainly between the American and the international players, or do you also see the international players competing among themselves?
Jay:
I don’t recognize competition between the international players as much.
Q:
What are your thoughts on Tiger Woods being the only PGA pro with his own tournament?
Jay:
I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think the fact that it’s a limited field doesn’t make any sense. And to be quite honest, I don’t think it’s the best time of year to play there, I think the golf course is kind of boring at that time of year, just hot and humid. I think it would be much better served in Seattle or somewhere in New England. I think weather plays such a big part in golf tournaments.
Q:
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem recently stated that a drug-testing policy is imminent on the PGA Tour, what are your thoughts on the subject?
Jay:
Well, yeah. I don’t know what he’s waiting for. I think it should have been adopted a year or two ago when all this was going on in baseball. I think there’s too much money at stake and guys will do anything they can to get an edge. I think it definitely should be adopted sooner rather than later.
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