ZS: How would you describe the golf culture in America and how does it differ from at home in Slovakia?
SV: Over here it is much bigger, there are much more opportunities. Slovakia is more of a soccer and ice hockey country, to be honest.
Soccer is really where most of the opportunity is. Everyone, from the time they are little, they play soccer in Slovakia. America is a completely different scene. America is different with the golf culture because people don’t really have any interest in golf back home and don’t really understand the game.
The culture here is very different because of the buzz around it. Here in America, if you tell someone you play golf they are suddenly interested. Golf is much more respected in the U.S. and appreciated.
ZS: Who were some of the golfers you watched growing up?
SV: Tiger Woods, I watched him a lot. About his game, I think he’s mentally on a different level than most people. He literally said that the strongest aspect of his game is between the ears, his mental state.
There are many young guys now who can hit it further than Tiger but I think Tiger is just overall more consistent. He can really hit any kind of shot. Even though he’s about 43 now, he is still beating the young guys who are like 25.
I would say the most incredible aspect about Tiger is how he’s come back from so many injuries.
Everyone thought he was done. Everyone thought he wouldn’t come back from injuries, all the analysts and anyone you ask would go and say, “Tiger is done. There is no way he is coming back.”
So, it is very admirable how he has silenced the critics. He’s had 18 surgeries or something like that and he’s still in perfect physical shape.
ZS: How would you sum up the experience of playing in the 16-18 Hurricane Junior Golf Tour in Orlando and then again representing Scotland Campus in the Hurricane Junior Golf Pittsburgh Junior Open? How did you perform in each event?
SV: I didn’t have the highest expectations going in to the tournament in Orlando, knowing that there was tremendous competition there. The guys who were playing in that one were all really good. So, it was hard. It was very windy, the course itself was beautiful but very tricky.
A small mistake could have cost any golfer quite a lot. I shot a 91 in the first round and a 78 in the second round, which kind of saved me a little bit.
I believe I played well the second round because I was more relaxed, I knew a big win was no longer at stake at that point.
It boosted me up because I really wanted to finish at a good place. So, after the first round I was really disappointed. In the second round I just basically put myself in a relaxed state, as if I was playing for fun.
In Pittsburgh, it was a really interesting experience. I won the whole tournament, shooting a 71 in the first round. Then in the second round, I shot an 82. My main focus in this tournament was to play the first round as well as I could, since there was a high chance that the second round could be cancelled because of inclement weather.
So, after the first round, I was leading by five shots. In the second round, when we came in, it was 35 degrees. While we were warming up, it even started snowing.
Since the snow was suddenly melting, the organizers said that we had to play through it. Coach (Scott) Hall just told me to basically not to stress, since I’m leading.
He made sure I didn’t get discouraged because with those conditions, he explained that everyone was going to have an off day. So that kind of helped me mentally. I wound up shooting 82, which basically enabled me to lead by six shots after the second round.
ZS: How would you describe your relationship with coach Hall? Which aspects of your game has he enabled you to finely tune?
SV: Since my golf swing is now in its right place, the main aspect he tells me to focus is keeping calm and staying focused throughout all 18 holes. Coach Hall he also tells me when he sees that I’m tense and has me think about it. He gives me the option of deciding if I want to change the approach of my swing, but he won’t force me into it.
He gives me the option of thinking about it. If I want to change it, he basically coaches me through how to change it. Since we have a small team, we all help each other out as well. If Diego (Sequenda) is struggling, he’ll ask me to look at his swing and tell me what I think about and what he should work on. In a way, we are coaching each other while keeping in mind the concepts preached by coach Hall.
ZS: What are your expectations heading into the first-ever season here at Scotland Campus?
SV: Since we have a really intense off-season, practicing everyday and going through workouts and getting stronger, I have high expectations. I definitely feel more confident with my swing and how it is working. I believe this season is going to be really good for us, hopefully leading into many wins. I’m also hoping for many good scores and to attract attention from colleges, since I’m a senior.
ZS: Which schools have you been hearing from so far?
SV: Right now I’ve heard from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. They have offered me an academic scholarship with the opportunity of playing golf. I’ve also gained a 70 percent scholarship from Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia.
I’ve been hearing lately from Division-II schools in locations such as Kansas and many Division-III schools have reached out to me for consideration. Right now, I’m trying to set my sights on Division-I or Division-II.
