'Once you're turning down events – that's where you want to be' - Page 2 of 2

How hard is it to win away in Walker Cup?

You don’t realise how much support they have until you are over there. I played Stewart Hagestad who was the local boy and a member at Los Angeles Country Club in both singles and I couldn’t believe it, everyone was chanting his name on the 1sttee. I had never heard anything like it anywhere else. It is 18 holes but it feels a lot longer as so there is so much going on, it goes quickly but it feels like a 36-hole match.

I was up early on in the first match and six up through 10. He then had a switch of momentum and it felt like he was winning – he hit this shot from 240 yards to two feet and he said, “I’m back, I’m coming for you.” He literally said that to me.

In an ironic way?

I don’t know, it was a bit weird and I couldn’t tell if it was a joke. Then with the support he had it felt like everything was going against me but I closed him out.

We’ve only won away twice which says everything.

Jack Singh Brar

You and Scott beat Cameron Champ in the Saturday foursomes, what do you remember about that?

I remember hoping that I wasn’t teeing up with him, I’m not that long and I’d heard that this dude was long. On the 2ndit’s quite a demanding tee shot and you can’t really go right from 290-320.

I hit a good drive to leave Scott a 5-iron, Cameron hit this spinny cut and I thought he’s dead but he was so far up there and he left his partner a wedge in.

He’s now won on the PGA Tour which is mad. He lost both his matches on the first day but you can never tell after one weekend and it’s a phenomenal achievement.

You had a chance to win all your four matches?

That would have been awesome. I got off to another good start against Stewart but I couldn’t hang on. I ended up losing at the 17th when I hit a bunker shot, hit the lip and then hit back of the sand with my club. The bunkers had no sand in and I didn’t even know what had happened. I hit my next shot to 10 feet and the referee started walking over and you know then that you’ve done something wrong. I had no idea what I had done as I was so caught up in the moment.

Is it worth staying an amateur for?

I can see why people say yes and no. For sponsorship then you maybe should try and play Walker Cup as it’s easier to get some management and then sponsors but you can also go the EuroPro or Alps or Q School route. If I hadn’t done anything on the Challenge Tour through my starts then I would now be in the same position as someone who didn’t play Walker Cup and turned pro year earlier.

I told my cousin to turn pro as he’s too far off the Walker Cup so he might as well start now and work his way up. If you’re good enough you’ll make it.

Stars in the making! The @latelateshow hosted the GB&I team tonight. Thanks to @JKCorden, @benwinston and @NiallOfficial. #WalkerCup pic.twitter.com/QNZSmKl1e0

— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 7, 2017

What was the highlight of your amateur career, winning the Lytham Trophy or the Walker Cup?

Probably the Walker Cup as it was in America and we got to do some amazing things as a team like Universal and The Late Late Show. It was the best 10 days and being in a team environment is rare other than playing for the national side.

Is Lytham the hardest set-up you’ve played as a pro or amateur?

By far, as a pro they will move some of the tees around. In most amateur tournaments you are off the plates all week and they’re not moving, they don’t want low scores for some reason. On tour they’ll give you a chance, if the wind’s up they push the tees forward. As an amateur if you can’t reach, you can’t reach.

How did you get together with your management company Modest! Golf?

I started talking to them at Hampshire Salver in 2017, I first met Mark (McDonnell) there and we spoke a lot through the season. They got me some free clothing from Nike which is always a help. It’s not too hard to get clubs but clothing is always nice. And the month before the Walker Cup I knew I was signing with them and we announced it the day after.

One of their directors is Niall Horan, how pally are you with him – good mates or management mates?

Yeah, more a management mate! We had a Christmas party and he’s a really good guy, very humble and so down to earth. He loves golf and is really good for the game as he brings a lot of people to the game.

At the Omega pro-am with Rory it brought so many young girls to the club, it was crazy.