Cameron Tringale and Nicholas Thompson are Georgia Tech graduates who compete on the PGA Tour. Both recall some of the bad shots they’ve seen in pro-ams and talk about how amateurs should play when they’re with the professionals.
CAMERON TRINGALE
I’ve seen everything there is out there, from guys missing the ball on the tee to missing tap-in putts. There’s not really anything that I haven’t seen happen.
It’s hard to say what the worst thing is. I’ve seen a lot of bad swings and bad shots, though. A lot of guys try too hard or try to kill the ball and end up missing it or shanking it.
The worst thing is to worry about what I think about your golf game. I’m not going to care if you shoot a 100, and I’m not going to care if you shoot a 66. You’re not going to impress me either way. So just come out and enjoy the day.
Just try to relax and enjoy yourself. You’re getting to spend the day playing with a professional on a great golf course. So just relax and have fun. Don’t get stressed out.
NICHOLAS THOMPSON
Once you’ve played in a few pro-ams, you know that those guys are probably nervous. Maybe they’ve never played in front of a crowd or maybe they’ve never played with a professional. The nerves can get to them.
The worst thing is when they hit the pro. I tell them that’s my only rule: Don’t hit the pro. I’ve been hit twice, so I’ve learned to not stand ahead of anyone when they’re swinging.
Don’t try to do things you can’t do or get mad when you hit a bad shot. The main thing is to enjoy the day. You’re probably going to hit some bad shots, so don’t worry about them.
The main thing is just have fun. I try to make sure they’re having a good time. I just want them to have fun and enjoy themselves. I start on the first tee, tell them a joke and get them loosened up. That usually helps. If you can get them to relax, they’ll have more fun and they’ll have a better experience.
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