It is rare that tour players open up and provide a real glimpse into their winning mindsets, let alone their losing thoughts. We see the canned and pre-planned “thank you” and “I love returning to this tournament every year” at press conferences, but rarely do we get substantive insight into the struggles of PGA Tour players, particularly those with demons as prominent as Kevin Na’s.
Alan Shipnuck of GOLF Magazine has conducted an insightful interview with Na in which he provides a look into the conflicted mind of the tour player. The interview addresses Na’s haunting nightmares, the long pre-shot routine that made him infamous, and everything in between. Tour fans will remember Na’s struggles. He carded a 16 on a par 4; at times he stands over the ball for 15+ seconds at address; multiple times he has failed to win tournaments after building up a sizeable lead, and all of this while having a swing that is the envy of nearly every golfer.
Na is likeable on a personal level and you find yourself feeling empathetic towards him throughout the interview… that is until you remember his $20.7 million in career earnings and look at his picture perfect swing. I guess life as Kevin Na isn’t all bad!