Checking in With Champions Tour’s Paul Goydos

October 06, 2016

Late last year, the Champions Tour announced a new Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a series of three events that would begin with the PowerShares QQQ Championship, which, luckily for SoCal golf fans, would be held right here in the Southland at Sherwood CC in Thousand Oaks. We caught up with Long Beach native Paul Goydos, who currently sits 20th on the Charles Schwab Cup Money List, about the new series of events and why he’s excited to have the inaugural playing here in Southern California.

What does the new playoff structure add to the Champions Tour season?

It adds more stories. Create more excitement. Playoffs are something that our sports and golf fans like. A season-ending culmination. Take a situation like in 2007, where the undefeated New England Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl. That feeling where no matter what happens in the season, anything can happen now. Players are excited to have a chance at that. Playoffs allow you to have a mediocre year, but play well when it’s most important. It’s very exciting that we get to host the very first event here in Los Angeles.

Will you approach the first playoff event here in SoCal any differently than you did other events this year?

I hope not. I hope I can have the same attitude. But it’s new, so I don’t know. The first two events, if you’re on the bubble, you’ll have to take a look and that may affect strategy. You might adjust how you play, not how you prepare. Historically, the Schwab Cup has often been decided before the last tournament was even played. A lot more people will be in the mix now. You’ll see a slightly different style of play. Golf is not a very situational sport, and we’ll now have more situational golf.

What’s your familiarity with Sherwood CC?

It was built about the same time Dove Canyon, another Jack Nicklaus course, was, and I’m a member there. They are similar to some extent. It’s obviously a very good golf course. It has a lot of cache. And it’s beautiful there. California is just a great place to play golf. Most of my experience of the course, though, is watching it on TV. I have played in a few pro-ams there. It’s dramatic. The Back 9 has a bunch of par 5s, great eagle opportunities. 16 gives longer players advantage. 17 shorter players. That’ll provide a good mix coming in with the tournament on the line.

What has this season been like for you?

It’s been an interesting year. Out of my three years on Tour, this has been my least consistent. I’ve had more bad days. But then the good has been very, very good. I had a chance in Atlanta to win the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, and lipped out a putt on the last hole. Obviously at the Dick’s Open, I played exceptionally well and won. Overall, having played 50 events on the Champions Tour, three wins is probably more than I expected. As golfers, we tend to micromanage ourselves, over value the last round we played. This year has been 65 percent mediocre. But the 10 percent that has been terrific has been exceptional.

Do you still consider SoCal home base?

Definitely. I live in Coto de Caza. Play Dove Canyon GC often.

Do you still play out of Virginia CC? What’s the vibe like there with so much talent and younger players?

Jamie Mulligan, CEO there, has been a big influence on me. I’ve known him my whole life. He has some great ideas about the game, and is just a good person to be around. It’s one of my favorite places in golf. The atmosphere at Virginia is second to none.

When you’re in town, do you have a can’t-miss SoCal spot?

I was once asked what I would serve if I won The Masters, and I said “a family-run spot called Super Mex in Long Beach.” My food choices tend to be more along those lines. Hole in the wall, locally made. I’m certainly not a foodie.

Learn more about the PowerShares QQQ, and purchase tickets, at http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/powershares-qqq-championship.html. Planning to attend? Make sure to stop by the SCGA booth and claim your free member gift!



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thevaporz

Handicap Index: 13.5
Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Hit another 59, Paul! He’s definitely one of my top 10 golfers whom I’d love to play with in a Pro-am. Love his attitude.