New Game, New Thinking: Matt Weibring profile

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As part of the New Game, New Thinking series (click here to learn more), PGATOUR.COM freelance writer Rudy Klancnik profiles Matt Weibring.

There are many advantages to having a father who played and won on the PGA TOUR, but Matt Weibring's most important leg up on his rookie class is self made. Standing before you is a young man who exhibits the confidence and self awareness to have immediate success in the big leagues. PGATOUR.COM caught up with Matt in Hawaii as he hung with his pops, D.A. Weibring, while the elder played in Kona at a Champions Tour stop. Hey, tough life, kid.

PGATOUR.COM: It's 65 degrees in your hometown of Dallas today and you're off in paradise pitching and putting. Don't tell me the weather is nicer where you're sitting at.

WEIBRING: Well, it's a lot more predictable, I'll tell you that. I came over as an alternate for the Sony Open in Hawaii (the TOUR's second stop this season) and just missed out. Since my dad was over here at their first (Champions) Tour stop, I figured that I'd stay and get in some practice before I get my chance to kick off the season in San Diego.

PGATOUR.COM: Clearly, the pedigree is there. The son of D.A. Weibring, who grew up at Royal Oaks Country Club and who's first serious swing coach was Randy Smith. What's it like to be at this level now?

WEIBRING: I'm very excited to get rolling. I've been working toward this for six years since I left Georgia Tech. I'm ready for this season. My dad always told me not to rush this. He said getting here too quickly can really hurt a young golfer since you're put into situations that aren't easy to deal with at times. You have to carry yourself with the type of maturity that can handle anything thrown at you.

PGATOUR.COM: Following your dad during his long and winding path on the TOUR probably doesn't hurt your preparation, right?

WEIBRING: Yes, I understand the lifestyle and nothing should surprise me about being on the TOUR this year. But the Nationwide Tour helped as much as my experiences as a kid with my dad. The Nationwide (Tour) gives you a good look at what it's going to be like. It's been great seeing recognizable faces from both the Nationwide (Tour) and from the (PGA) TOUR who I met through my dad. I've also walked a lot of the courses we'll be playing this year, some of them as a caddie. It's different, of course, than playing them in a tournament, but at least I'll know what the courses look like before teeing it up on Thursday.

PGATOUR.COM: If there was one special pearl of wisdom that your father passed along, can you let us in on it?

WEIBRING: Well, you really have to trust in yourself and in the people around you. There's a lot of activity swirling around you on the TOUR. Trainers, teachers, equipment guys . . . they're a ton of people trying to get you to work out this way or hit this new shaft. No matter what, you can never doubt yourself and the equipment and people who got you to this point. Not everyone on the TOUR has a perfect swing. But it's the guys who've managed to keep believing in their game and not bail out for a quick fix who experience the most success. That's the key to winning consistently out here in my opinion.

PGATOUR.COM: What should golf fans see from Matt Weibring's game?

WEIBRING: I hit the ball pretty straight and thanks to my dad, I'm good from 100 yards in. I can play plenty of stress-free rounds because I don't often get into too much trouble.

PGATOUR.COM: In reading your biography in the golf media's bible, the PGA TOUR Media Guide, I noted that you list "hunting, fishing and music" as hobbies. While every golfer now lists "hunting and fishing" just to be in the Boo Weekley club, what's with the music reference?

WEIBRING: I'm a big Pat Green fan. Pat and I are great friends and I love the type of country music he performs. Pat and I actually have been playing partners at some Nationwide (Tour) events and won a BMW-sponsored event a couple of years back. I hope we can partner again at Pebble Beach.

PGATOUR.COM: Being a Fort Worth guy myself, I too am a big fan of Pat Green's. But I had no idea he was such a stick.

WEIBRING: He plays all the time. He's either at Colonial or Shady Oaks when he's not on the road. He text messages me after most every competitive round I play to check in on how I fared. He's a great friend.

PGATOUR.COM: So, I must ask the age old question. If given the chance to change places with Pat and win a Grammy and become a country music superstar, would you take that or would you want the green jacket in Augusta?

WEIBRING: Uh, the Masters.

PGATOUR.COM: OK, that was a quick answer.

WEIBRING: I've been playing golf most of my life and just love it out here. To win the Masters would be nuts. This first year I'm shooting pretty high. I'd love to win the Rookie of the Year and make THE TOUR Championship, both of which would be huge feats. At the end of the year, though, I want to look back and point to four to five tournaments in which I put myself in the position to win on Sunday. If I can do that and learn from those experiences, I would have had a very solid year.

PGATOUR.COM: Not only do you have great experiences thanks to your upbringing, but I would imagine your wife has learned plenty from watching and talking to your mom.

WEIBRING: That's very true. My mom really understands how challenging it can be sweating every stroke out there. She's always known when my dad needed extra support and when to lie back a bit. It's an art form really. Stephanie (Matt's wife) already is very good at it, but she's certainly tapped into my mom's knowledge on the matter.

PGATOUR.COM: One last question I just can't resist. Do you remember the first time you finally bested dear old dad?

WEIBRING: Absolutely. It was one of the biggest days of my life. It was the summer after my first year at Georgia Tech and I made a 12-footer for birdie on the final hole to edge him by one. I had to shoot a 66 to beat him. I raised my hands like I just won the Masters, but it was a big deal. Most kids beat their dads when they're 13. But most kids don't play with guys who can score in the 60s nearly every time out.