Putting
Best friend on tour Stuart Appleby – we grew up playing amateur golf together and are the same age.
Funniest person on tour Everyone is so serious! (Delayed pause) Me.
Best ball striker Myself.
Dream fourball I’d go for Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman in their primes, and Tiger Woods.
Last book you read (Long pause) This is showing how long it’s been! Can it be a magazine? If so it was GolfWeek.
Three CDs for a desert island Coldplay, Empire of the Sun and James Blunt.
One course for rest of your life I’d say St Andrews because it can be different every single day. It’s awesome.
Most nervous moment in career Well, every time you try to make a putt to win it is tough. Also, when you’re in a play-off the nerves can get up. I’ve won nearly all of mine but it is quite nerve-wracking.
Last time you were starstruck I never have been.
Worst shot I’m sure I’ve hit a shank somewhere!
Favourite food Australian dim sims (a chinese-inspired fried meat dumpling).
Favourite drink Beer. I love Corona, Crown lager and VB (Victoria Bitter).
I’d choose St Andrews to play every day for the rest of my life. It can be different every single day. It’s awesome. Proudest moment Outside of golf it was the birth of my two kids. In golf, all 22 victories.
First car An old Toyota Corolla. It was really old and cost about $2,000 (about £1,300).
First job I worked in a factory making sketch pads and art materials for schools. It’s the only job I’ve had. Golf is not a job – it’s just fun.
Best tip for an amateur Slow your swing down! I see so many amateurs that swing way too fast. They should think 75 per cent with every club.
Best shot ever My hole in one on the 13th at Doral this year in the WGC-CA Championship. It was 233 yards and I hit my five wood.
Other sporting loves? If I didn’t play golf I would probably have been a cricketer. I used to follow it really closely but it is really hard to do so when you live in America.
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.