June 21, 2024 • 7 mins
Tyler Wood turned professional as a 23-year-old at the 2023 NZ Open, after a celebrated amateur playing career that included representing New Zealand on the international stage.
In April, Tyler finished the Australasian PGA Tour Qualifying School in the top 5, which sees him exempt for the coming year in Australia with some big money tournaments in store for him.
Tyler spoke with Lesley Murdoch, in association with the Elmwood Trading Company, about his career and his time caddying for his good friend Kazuma Kobori at the Major Championship at Valhalla.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, let's go to our golf segment, and of course
we are indebted to Marty Fuller and the team out
at the Elmwood Trading Company for the it's the coverage
of this part of our program and we welcome to
the All Sports Breakfasts mister Tyler Woods. Tyler, good morning,
Hey do look, we are very good and what I
need to tell our listeners if they didn't already know,
(00:21):
is that you are one of New Zealand's best up
and coming tour professionals. You turned a professional as a
twenty three year old and that was at the twenty
twenty three New Zealand Open in April. You finished the
Australasian PGA Tour Qualifying School in the top five and
that means you get an exemption for the coming year
in Australia, which is fantastic. And you also caddied for
(00:44):
our good friends Kazuomer Gabori and finishing events on that
Australian tour. So Tyler, wow, you have had a fantastic
couple of years.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, that has been pretty hectic, but yeah, it's been great.
It's been great learning up until now and yeah, I'm
looking forward to what the future holds really.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So how did you start playing golf?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I grew up in a little town called Nahana PODi,
just outside of Hamilton, and my primary school was right
next to a golf course. I picked up from there.
My dad got me some clubs and away I went, yes,
and just spent a lot of a lot of hours
at the course growing up.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So yeah, and what when did you work out that
you were good enough to be part of the very
top scene.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, I mean it sort of just came with results.
I mean we're playing and practicing a lot, and then
as a junior sort of managed to win the Wakato
Junior age groups one year and sort of looking at
some of the names on the trophy, you kind of go, oh,
some of these guys are professional, so maybe I do
have a future in the sport, and just carried it
(01:54):
on from that point.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And about the first twelve months as a two professional,
what changed? What did you learn from that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I mean not a lot of people know the behind
the scenes of first year professional and it can be
very tough. But yeah, I mean the first year is
always the hardest, most people say. And I've learned a lot,
like a lot of time spent in Europe last year
and Australia as well. But yeah, it's an absolute It
(02:27):
is an absolute grind, but I love it and I
think hopefully things will get easier from here. But it's
still a tough slog at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Oh absolutely. I think people see it through very rose
colored glasses, don't they.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
They do they do. Yeah, the lower end of professional
golfers and all private jets and stuff like that, it's
more Toyota corollas and yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, So what does the next twelve months hold for you?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, so a bit of off season. At the moment,
I'm just really working hard on my game, getting getting
ready for the Australasian Tour which takes off in August,
and then yeah, I'll go from there and potentially go
to Asian talk Q School near the end of the
year and trying to luck there. But at the moment,
(03:18):
just focusing on Ossie Tour and hopefully trying to finish
a little bit higher up on the order of mirror
this year.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
And yeah, oh fantastic. Tell us about the experience of
caddying for Kazuomakabori in Australia and at the PGA.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, well, I had the opportunity to caddy for him
and Ossie because I was actually the first ultimate for
an event over there and didn't end up making the
field unfortunately, But I thought, I just we were staying
together that week, so I jumped on the bag for
him and he ended up winning the event. So yeah,
once he got the once he got the call up
(03:54):
to the PGA, he didn't have a caddy lined up,
and he asked if i'd come over with him, and
I said absolutely, So, yeah, it was a really great
experience and seeing a lot of the guys that you
see on TV, and I don't think you realize how
good they are watching them on TV until you're there
in person. But yeah, it was a great week with
(04:16):
Kazuma and really proud of the young man. And yeah,
I mean he he's going to go places, that's for sure,
and hopefully I can follow closely behind him.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh look, look, that's amazing really from your perspective because
you would often compete against him as well, but suddenly
you're in his camp.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah. Yeah, it is a little bit odd, but we
spent a lot of time together in Ossi last year,
and yeah, I mean if I wasn't in contention. I
was always pulling for him, so yeah, it was it
was fine. We're good mates, so I was more than
happy to do the job for him.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What do you have to do to get yourself up
to where you need to be? What part of your
game needs the most work if you like improvement?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, well, so that was sort of the thing I
sat down and had to look at at the start
of the off season. But it's mostly mostly short game,
which was a good good thing catting for Kazoma because
actually specialty is chipping and putting, like he's world class
of that. So it was good having a front row
seat to watching him that week at the PGA and
(05:20):
doing his things. So I know what stuff I've got
to work on, and I've been working really hard on
it in the last few months and the next few
months coming as well.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And I'm quite intrigued about the physical fitness requirements. Do
you have to do anything special there? Yeah? Well, the
game of.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Golf has shifted a long way in the last sort
of twenty years. A lot of the guys that you
see on TV are extremely strong, and the courses are
set up for you need to have that physical strength
with the link and the rot and whatnot. So yeah,
we do do quite a bit of gym work and
conditioning and you have to have quite a big team
behind you supporting you in that area. A little bit
(06:00):
of an underrated part of the game, but it's certainly
becoming the way nowadays and for you to be.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
A fully fledged professional. You mentioned the support group, I mean,
how important are they and is there anyone in particular
you want to shout out to.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, I mean there's you definitely do haven't been team
behind you, and yeah, they do a lot of work
behind the scenes. But yeah, mostly i'd say my coach,
Ryon Sayer and my former coach, the man who actually
got me into golf, Warren Smith. But yeah, they were
pretty much the ones that helped me get started and
(06:40):
sort of paved my way to where I've got to today.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And finally, even though you've been giving lots of advice
to Kazoomer, when you're caddying a bit of advice for
a young golfer coming through.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, I mean, just pretty much, hard work beat talent.
At the end of the day, just work as hard
as you can and make sure you have fun doing it,
because I mean, if you're having fun, then you're always
going to want to come back.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So yeah, oh, very timely advice to thank you so much,
very much, Tyler Ward. We're really grateful for you spending
some time with us on the program. We're going to
watch alongside Kazooma because we sickly keep in touch with
what he's doing, but we're going to keep our eyes
on you as well. Thank you so much for spending
some time with us. Oh co on, thanks for having
(07:28):
me For more from News Talks ed B listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on IR Radio
Well, let's go to our golf segment, and of course
we are indebted to Marty Fuller and the team out
at the Elmwood Trading Company for the it's the coverage
of this part of our program and we welcome to
the All Sports Breakfasts mister Tyler Woods. Tyler, good morning,
Hey do look, we are very good and what I
need to tell our listeners if they didn't already know,
(00:21):
is that you are one of New Zealand's best up
and coming tour professionals. You turned a professional as a
twenty three year old and that was at the twenty
twenty three New Zealand Open in April. You finished the
Australasian PGA Tour Qualifying School in the top five and
that means you get an exemption for the coming year
in Australia, which is fantastic. And you also caddied for
(00:44):
our good friends Kazuomer Gabori and finishing events on that
Australian tour. So Tyler, wow, you have had a fantastic
couple of years.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, that has been pretty hectic, but yeah, it's been great.
It's been great learning up until now and yeah, I'm
looking forward to what the future holds really.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
So how did you start playing golf?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I grew up in a little town called Nahana PODi,
just outside of Hamilton, and my primary school was right
next to a golf course. I picked up from there.
My dad got me some clubs and away I went, yes,
and just spent a lot of a lot of hours
at the course growing up.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
So yeah, and what when did you work out that
you were good enough to be part of the very
top scene.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, I mean it sort of just came with results.
I mean we're playing and practicing a lot, and then
as a junior sort of managed to win the Wakato
Junior age groups one year and sort of looking at
some of the names on the trophy, you kind of go, oh,
some of these guys are professional, so maybe I do
have a future in the sport, and just carried it
(01:54):
on from that point.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And about the first twelve months as a two professional,
what changed? What did you learn from that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I mean not a lot of people know the behind
the scenes of first year professional and it can be
very tough. But yeah, I mean the first year is
always the hardest, most people say. And I've learned a lot,
like a lot of time spent in Europe last year
and Australia as well. But yeah, it's an absolute It
(02:27):
is an absolute grind, but I love it and I
think hopefully things will get easier from here. But it's
still a tough slog at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Oh absolutely. I think people see it through very rose
colored glasses, don't they.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
They do they do. Yeah, the lower end of professional
golfers and all private jets and stuff like that, it's
more Toyota corollas and yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, So what does the next twelve months hold for you?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, so a bit of off season. At the moment,
I'm just really working hard on my game, getting getting
ready for the Australasian Tour which takes off in August,
and then yeah, I'll go from there and potentially go
to Asian talk Q School near the end of the
year and trying to luck there. But at the moment,
(03:18):
just focusing on Ossie Tour and hopefully trying to finish
a little bit higher up on the order of mirror
this year.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
And yeah, oh fantastic. Tell us about the experience of
caddying for Kazuomakabori in Australia and at the PGA.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, well, I had the opportunity to caddy for him
and Ossie because I was actually the first ultimate for
an event over there and didn't end up making the
field unfortunately, But I thought, I just we were staying
together that week, so I jumped on the bag for
him and he ended up winning the event. So yeah,
once he got the once he got the call up
(03:54):
to the PGA, he didn't have a caddy lined up,
and he asked if i'd come over with him, and
I said absolutely, So, yeah, it was a really great
experience and seeing a lot of the guys that you
see on TV, and I don't think you realize how
good they are watching them on TV until you're there
in person. But yeah, it was a great week with
(04:16):
Kazuma and really proud of the young man. And yeah,
I mean he he's going to go places, that's for sure,
and hopefully I can follow closely behind him.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh look, look, that's amazing really from your perspective because
you would often compete against him as well, but suddenly
you're in his camp.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah. Yeah, it is a little bit odd, but we
spent a lot of time together in Ossi last year,
and yeah, I mean if I wasn't in contention. I
was always pulling for him, so yeah, it was it
was fine. We're good mates, so I was more than
happy to do the job for him.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What do you have to do to get yourself up
to where you need to be? What part of your
game needs the most work if you like improvement?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, well, so that was sort of the thing I
sat down and had to look at at the start
of the off season. But it's mostly mostly short game,
which was a good good thing catting for Kazoma because
actually specialty is chipping and putting, like he's world class
of that. So it was good having a front row
seat to watching him that week at the PGA and
(05:20):
doing his things. So I know what stuff I've got
to work on, and I've been working really hard on
it in the last few months and the next few
months coming as well.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And I'm quite intrigued about the physical fitness requirements. Do
you have to do anything special there? Yeah? Well, the
game of.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Golf has shifted a long way in the last sort
of twenty years. A lot of the guys that you
see on TV are extremely strong, and the courses are
set up for you need to have that physical strength
with the link and the rot and whatnot. So yeah,
we do do quite a bit of gym work and
conditioning and you have to have quite a big team
behind you supporting you in that area. A little bit
(06:00):
of an underrated part of the game, but it's certainly
becoming the way nowadays and for you to be.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
A fully fledged professional. You mentioned the support group, I mean,
how important are they and is there anyone in particular
you want to shout out to.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, I mean there's you definitely do haven't been team
behind you, and yeah, they do a lot of work
behind the scenes. But yeah, mostly i'd say my coach,
Ryon Sayer and my former coach, the man who actually
got me into golf, Warren Smith. But yeah, they were
pretty much the ones that helped me get started and
(06:40):
sort of paved my way to where I've got to today.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And finally, even though you've been giving lots of advice
to Kazoomer, when you're caddying a bit of advice for
a young golfer coming through.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, I mean, just pretty much, hard work beat talent.
At the end of the day, just work as hard
as you can and make sure you have fun doing it,
because I mean, if you're having fun, then you're always
going to want to come back.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So yeah, oh, very timely advice to thank you so much,
very much, Tyler Ward. We're really grateful for you spending
some time with us on the program. We're going to
watch alongside Kazooma because we sickly keep in touch with
what he's doing, but we're going to keep our eyes
on you as well. Thank you so much for spending
some time with us. Oh co on, thanks for having
(07:28):
me For more from News Talks ed B listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on IR Radio
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