New Game, New Thinking: Kris Blanks 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 Kris Blanks.

Has your wife ever whipped your tail at golf? Now you know how Kris Blanks has felt at least a half dozen times over the course of his relationship with wife, Tami. Of course, Blanks' wife was the top player at Ohio State University for four years. That's "The" Ohio State University, the Buckeyes, the school that produced Jack Nicklaus. So Kris gets a pass from us on that one. We caught up with the 36-year-old rookie on the putting green -- literally talking and putting -- the week after the deluge at Pebble Beach.

PGATOUR.COM: Some guys won't even play golf with their wives let alone go toe-to-toe on the links. You've actually lost to your wife. Please explain yourself.

BLANKS: I'm proud that I've only lost nine times, lifetime, in face-to-face matches. She'd kill to beat me and would break a putter over her knee if she blew a putt to lose a match. It definitely makes for some interesting wagers on the course.

PGATOUR.COM: Obviously, Tami is quite a stick.

BLANKS: She was a star at Ohio State and was the assistant pro at Hilton Head. The original plan was for her to play on the LPGA and for me to support her. At some point, we had to make the tough decision to call it quits on that dream, and now she's supporting my efforts on the TOUR.

PGATOUR.COM: With two little guys at the house, she's working harder than you anyhow.

BLANKS: There's no doubt. When she had our youngest, we decided to have her stay at home. It's been a great tradeoff.

PGATOUR.COM: You traded up this year going from No. 13 on the Nationwide Tour money list to the PGA TOUR. How's it going so far?

BLANKS: You can't print what I'd like to say. I've played terribly thus far, and I really have no idea why.

PGATOUR.COM: Has the adjustment to this level been a little different than you expected?

BLANKS: To be honest, it's been exactly what I thought. Playing in the Nationwide Tour really gets you prepared to be out here. And right now, I've been playing in front of the same amount of folks as before -- about 20 to 30 fans. A lot of my friends and family keep calling with great advice. Thing is, I don't need the advice. They're just trying to help, and they all think I'm just getting my legs under me out here. But in actuality, I'm just playing like crap, and that's the whole deal.

PGATOUR.COM: The West Coast Swing hasn't been friendly thus far. How do you get it turned around?

BLANKS: The funny thing is that I've been working hard and making progress on my weakest part of my game, my putting. But now I'm not hitting enough greens for it to matter. I just need to quit making the same mistakes over and over and get out of this funk.

PGATOUR.COM: When you are playing well, like you did last year when you won in Chicago, what type of game should we see from you?

BLANKS: I won't hit any shots that will cause your mouth to fall open, but I have a good, well-rounded game. I don't do anything spectacular, and I don't have any real holes. My game is sort of like my personality ... consistent and low key.

PGATOUR.COM: Surely, you've got some passions that run deeper than chipping and putting?

BLANKS: I love cars and video games. And, of course, I love hanging with my kids every chance I get.

PGATOUR.COM: Cars? We talking Ferrari or Chevy?

BLANKS: American muscle is my game. My wife is scared to death that I'll start winning some real money out here and start buying cars. I've got a list of eight cars that I want to start collecting. Right now, I've got a 1996 Dodge truck with a Viper engine. That's my toy.

PGATOUR.COM: I'm sure that bad boy gets some good gas mileage.

BLANKS: Not so much. People will say that, and I'll tell them that if I wanted good gas mileage, I'd be driving a Honda Accord. It's just for fun. I really don't drive it a ton.

PGATOUR.COM: You're living up in Maryland. How does that work into your winter practice schedule?

BLANKS: It doesn't. In fact, we're looking to make a move in the near future for that reason. We really liked our visit to McKinney, Texas, last year for the Nationwide Tour Championship. We really loved the people down there. It felt like a place we could live for a while. And it's a two-hour flight to the East or West Coast, so that's very helpful. And, of course, I can practice 12 months a year, which is huge for a rookie trying to make his way.

PGATOUR.COM: When the family stays home and you're traveling, what's a typical night out for you look like?

BLANKS: There aren't many nights out to be honest. I'm in a weird position since I'm an older rookie. Most of the other rookies are young guys who love to party. That's just not my style, which is fine.