Anthony Paolucci was recently named the Rolex Junior Player of the Year for 2010. In this interview, his coach Tim Cusick, Director of Instruction at the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort Dallas at Las Colinas, talks about Anthony's year, his game and what other aspiring junior golfers and their parents can learn from him.
Q. 2010 was a great year for Anthony. What were the key factors in his rise from a #12 ranking nationally to #1?
A. Anthony started to figure out just how good he actually was. The talent was always there, but he had to realize it for himself. I had been telling him for two years that he was going to be the best junior in the country, but he had to believe it. Additionally, his work at the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) helped him minimize some physical hurdles. As he became stronger and more flexible, the swing corrections we had worked on took hold.
Q. What are the strengths of Anthony's game?
A. Anthony has developed immense distance as he's grown into his body, gotten stronger and improved his overall technique. When I began working with him 3 years ago, his swing was a little unorthodox. He had lots of legs and arms moving around. Today, you could put him on the range at a tour event and he would fit right in. He's a very talented junior who has a chance to play the game for a living.
Anthony's work ethic is also impressive. He understands that golf is a process and he loves putting the work in. Not many players at any level can say that.
Finally, Anthony plays the game well. Not many junior golfers have a feel for the game like he does. He has learned how to shoot low scores and he is comfortable doing it. That's a trait that is difficult to teach.
Q. What can other junior golfers learn from Anthony and how he plays the game?
A. Junior golfers would do well to duplicate his work ethic. You have to want to practice and work at golf to be good. It doesn't come easily, even to the most athletic people.
Secondly, Anthony understands that his body is as important as his clubs. You have to be fit and flexible to just to keep up with the competition.
Finally, play the game as much as you can and keep score when you do. Anthony is always on the course testing himself against par.
Q. What advice would you give parents of junior golfers who aspire to be #1?
A. To be #1 your son or daughter must first be the best junior at their club, then town, state, and region. After your son or daughter is the best in those geographies, they are reay to take on juniors at the national level. If you skip any of these steps, you and your son or daughter are set up for failure. Junior golfers need to know what it's like to win at every level. In my opinion, that was a big mistake that Michelle Wie made. She has only recently begun winning again - after approximately seven years without one.
Q. Any final comment?
Juniors should wake up every day thinking about how they can improve on what they did the day before. If they live by that motto, they'll never second guess themselves.
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