ELMSFORD, N.Y. (December 6, 2007) - Jim McGovern, who won the 1987 Met Open as an amateur and then won the Met Amateur the following year, finished tied for 19th at PGA Tour Q-School this year and will be fully exempt Tour in 2008. McGovern, who turns 43 in February, won the 1993 Shell Houston Open, but since 2000 has played most of his tournaments on the Nationwide Tour. The native of Oradell, New Jersey, took a few minutes to speak with the MGA regarding his recent accomplishment:

 

Q: What was the difference in your game this season that allowed you to regain your PGA Tour card?

A: “I was working with Mark Wood [at Hamilton Farm GC in New Jersey] for the last few years before he moved to Colorado, and he really got me going on the right path again. I got re-focused on my game, and tried not to worry about what anyone else out there was doing. This year I worked with Jason Birnbaum at Alpine Country Club, and we really didn’t change much but I started to get my confidence back. I think about 90 percent of my game is guts and determination.”

 

Q: How will you approach being fully exempt on Tour for the first time in several years?

A: “Well I’m really maturing, which is scaring me! I’m just going to play within myself and give myself as many chances to succeed as possible. I’m not going to overpower a golf course, so for me it’s all about hitting the fairways. If I can do that, I can play on any course with anyone.”

 

Q: Any new additions to your bag that have helped in your success?

A: “About four or five months ago, I walked into the Hackensack pro shop and saw [teaching pro] Peter Springstead, who also happens to be my brother-in-law. I told him I was struggling with my putting, and instead of playing the ones that my sponsors sent me I was going to buy one. So I did, and it’s been very good to me ever since. They got a big kick out of it, and a couple months later my wife asked me about the $150 charge from the pro shop on our club statement. Luckily, it’s more than paid for itself.”

 

Q: Have you started planning your 2008 playing schedule yet?

A: “I’m hoping to play as much as possible early in the year and get off to a good start before they re-shuffle [adjust players’ status] at the end of the West Coast swing. I should be able to get into the Sony Open in Hawaii, and Bob Hope, San Diego, and Pebble. So hopefully I’ll be able to move up the rankings and then be able to pick my tournaments for the rest of the season.”