The support I receive is overwhelming Above: Matt and family


planning a life. What were you thinking of studying at university and why? I’ve always loved sport and always will, so I felt I had to do a degree connected to sport in some way - that’s why I chose sports


psychology at Leeds Uni. At


school I feel everyone tends to go down the same sort of path as that’s really what schools have to push. Until I realised I had the opportunity to maybe become a full time sportsman that was the route I thought I’d go down.


Then you got that chance to play golf at the highest amateur level. How did it come about?


My dad sat me down after I’d received my university offer and asked me if I’d like to defer my placement to play in all the top amateur events and see how I got on. It was an amazing offer and I snapped his arm off! My grandad has a place in Spain and dad also suggested I could go there to practice during the winter and then come back to play the top events. I’m very glad looking back I got this chance. I’m very lucky.


Talk us through your career to date, the highs and the lows... Starting with the highs is pretty easy. The Walker Cup was the best experience I’ve had by a mile so far. The media, being on TV, the spectators and the format were all superb and I loved every minute of it. The St Andrews Links Trophy was another high due to how self-satisfying it was to finally win a big tournament after all my close calls in the weeks before. I knew I could win but you never know if


it’s going to happen until it finally does. The low point for me was probably


finishing bogey-bogey to miss the cut at the Lytham Trophy in 2016. I remember not being able to communicate for days as I was in total shock and frustration. Also the 92 at the Spanish Amateur - but the less said about that the better!


When did you start to think you might be in with a chance of making the Walker Cup team? After winning the St. Andrews Links. I’d come close four times before that, however I knew winning would really benefit my chances massively. I started to think after the European Amateur which was another great performance that surely I have to be in with at least a chance because I couldn’t have done much more with my finishes.


You went off to face a USA team


including eight of the best amateurs in the world. What was the mood in the squad beforehand? Actually very good, everyone seemed to get on with each other. You could’ve left any two people in a room and they would’ve been able to make conversation and joke with each other. There weren’t any grudges being held! In terms of how the team felt, fairly optimistic. We thought we had a good team and were ready to give the Americans a game.


Now this really was competition at the highest


level and at its most intense.


What are your most vivid memories of the Match? The first tee shot definitely. Normally on the first tee of events I get quite anxious, I just want to start my round. However, at LACC it was just pure nerves. I was


Left: Matt soon wilted under the pressure of questions from his probing interviewer


practicing my 4 footers 5 minutes before I teed off and I was holing less than half as a result of my nerves. Also the shot on 16 after I’d taken a penalty drop from the left bushes. I had 230+ and decided to hit a high 2 iron over some trees. It finished around 12 to 15 feet from the hole and my mate Tom Greenfield’s words were: “It gave me goosebumps.”


Pam Shennan has a question. She says: “Many of the Americans and some of the GB&I players were or are part of the American College golf system, and well known to each other. Did this help the American victory, and do you regret not being a part of that system?” I’m actually pleased I never went to college in America now as it seems everything is turning out OK, and also because they still do education alongside golf which, to be honest, is something I wouldn’t have liked to have done. Playing golf all day everyday is easily the best life I could wish for and that’s what I’m doing at the moment. I think the guys over in America play courses that were similar to LACC and therefore, yes, it did benefit them, but if I’d played a home Walker Cup it would’ve benefited me playing in Britain so I guess it always works both ways.


Your family was in Los Angeles with you. Could you all hang out and relax, or did you have to simply focus? When I’m playing golf all I think about is the golf and nothing else really. I’m too intense and involved to start speaking and looking at others. Outside of the


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2018–2019 MAGAZINE 7


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