Harrison Endycott is a PGA Tour rookie from Sydney playing his first Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Endycott, who graduated from the secondary Korn Ferry Tour courtesy of a win, sat down with our man Evin Priest to chat about life on tour and his excitement to tee up in the PGA Tour’s $25 million flagship event.
Endycott is among seven Australians at TPC Sawgrass, including former Players champions Adam Scott and Jason Day, as well as Lucas Herbert, Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, and Aaron Baddeley.
Is this the biggest tournament you’ve ever played?
“Absolutely. I mean, it’s I mean, it’s an honour. Everyone this week has earned their spot here. I’m looking forward to taking on TPC Sawgrass this week. So, golf course is in unbelievable condition. It’s just amazing. Everything is so pristine. I just want to get the tournament going.”
What have you learned about yourself as a PGA Tour rookie?
“A lot of learning. I had a good chat with Jason Day yesterday and he was running through a few little things on how to work, and how to get a little bit better. Jason has been so kind to me, and since coming out here, he’s always been really helpful. He’s not frightened to take time out of his day to really help a young guy. Webb Simpson is the same. He’s always really tried to help me out while we’re both at PGA Tour events. We’ve played practice rounds and he’s pointed out holes at certain courses where I should almost accept a bogey, and some where I can go for birdies when I’m in position. His caddie, Paul Tesori, has been great, too.
“I’ve learned something new every week and it’s a different style of playing golf out here than it was on the Korn Ferry Tour. On Korn Ferry, it’s a really aggressive style of play, trying to shoot the low number. Out here, on the PGA Tour, you have to stay patient. Especially the way this golf course is set up. I feel really confident within myself and I’m working hard to get better every day.”
What’s that mental come down like from that aggressive approach you had to employ on the Korn Ferry Tour? How much adjusting do you have to do?
“It’s more discipline. It’s more accepting that sometimes 25 feet is a great shot. You’re not trying to shoot 62 every day.”
What’s Harrison Endycott like off the golf course?
“Oh, good question. I played a lot of different sports growing up, like rugby [union], cricket. I’m a big coffee drinker, too. I’m a bit of a child at heart. I’m 26 now and I still think I’m 17.”
Starting this season, you were a beneficiary of the PGA Tour Earnings Assurance program in which players are guaranteed to earn $US500,000. For rookies and returning members to the tour, that money wasn’t just guaranteed, but is be paid up front, with the players drawing against it during the season from their earnings. How much has that helped?
“The [$500,000] for rookies was huge. You’re not playing for much money [relatively] on the Korn Ferry Tour, but I was fortunate enough top up the bank account with a win and a few good finishes out there. But , it’s nothing compared to the PGA Tour. You’ve have to go out and make cuts, you have to have the results to earn money. To have that [financial] help early, it took me, mentally, away from money. I can focus on FedEx Cup points. I didn’t have to I didn’t have to stress.”
