Insider: Consistency is key to Mathis' improved play

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

In his last start, Mathis shot 63 on Sunday to finish T7 at the Fort Smith Classic.

The plan was simple.

With the Nationwide Tour idle this week David Mathis and his wife, Chastity, headed to North Myrtle Beach, S.C. for a few days of vacation. He put his clubs in the car -- just in case -- but he didn't expect to use them.

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Well, the vacation didn't quite go as planned.

"I did do a little practicing," said Mathis, "I guess I couldn't resist."

Mathis has been one of the hottest players on the Tour of late with three straight top-10 finishes. Despite playing in only nine tournaments this season he's worked his way up to 36th on the money list.

Mathis, 36, who lives in Raleigh, N.C., spent last season as a rookie on the PGA TOUR but didn't earn enough money to retain his card. But instead of wallowing in self pity or making excuses he simply did what he's always done.

"I went back to work," he said. "I've tried to keep my head down and just play."

Mathis has vast experience on the Nationwide Tour and won the BMW Charity Pro-Am in 2008 which helped him earn his TOUR card. He had some good tournaments as a TOUR rookie, including a career-best tie for 17th at the Wyndham Championship, but he wound up 160th on the money list and back on the Nationwide Tour.

"It really wasn't an adjustment going back to the Nationwide Tour, it was definitely more of an adjustment out on the PGA TOUR," he said. "It was like that last year because I had never been on that tour and I was kind of learning as I went."

Mathis, who graduated from Campbell University in 1997, took the long road to the Nationwide Tour. He spent several years on the mini-tours and even thought about giving up the game in 2005 after missing out on the first stage of q-school that fall.

A talk with Chastity, who was then his girlfriend, proved pivotal as she encouraged him to continue to pursue his dream. Then he went out and did well enough in qualifying school in 2006 to make it to the Nationwide Tour.

"God had a plan back then and that's what we both believe," the devout Mathis said.

There are other plans to be made, too. Chastity is now pregnant with their first child and is due in November.

"It's exciting to watch her belly get big," he said with a laugh.

Mathis, who has made more than $500,000 in his Nationwide Tour career, says that there have been no drastic changes to his game. He feels being more consistent is what has made the difference.

In his last three starts Mathis tied for ninth at the Rex Hospital Open, 10th at the Melwood Prince George's County Open and seventh at the Fort Smith Classic.

"I'm feeling like my game is gradually getting better," he said, "and it's always encouraging when things are going well."

Although he's not a long hitter (he ranks 102nd in driving distance) Mathis ranks first in scoring average with 29 rounds and an average of 69.24. He's also 10th in birdie average and ranks ninth in the all-around category.

"Sure it was a disappointment that I didn't do enough last year and lost my card but in the scheme of things it's prepared me for what I'm doing now," Mathis said. "It's a little humbling and it just wants me to work harder. I guess I could complain and find excuses but what good would that do, so I have to figure out what I can do to get better."

Mathis didn't make the long trip to Australia and New Zealand early in the season and took last week off instead of going to Mexico. He's poised to play five straight weeks starting with the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Canada next week.

"It's all about winning and trying to win out here," Mathis said. "I've given myself two good chances in those three weeks that if I played just a little better over nine holes it could have been different."

Mathis said it's not too early to start looking at getting inside the top 25 on the money list and staying there.

"I have to keep making as many birdies as I can," he said. "I mean, the ball is just sitting there on the tee and it's not moving so it should be easy. But we all know it's not."

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 16 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.