J.R. Smith sits down with PGA Tour pro Austin Smotherman and then golf legend Gary Koch at The Players Championship for a deep dive into what it really takes to compete at the highest level of golf.

From rebuilding a career on the Korn Ferry Tour to mastering pressure, routines, and mental toughness—this episode is packed with insights for athletes, golfers, and competitors in any field.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & setting the scene at The Players

00:36 – Austin Smotherman joins the show

01:15 – From Korn Ferry Tour to PGA Tour success

02:24 – Handling pressure & trusting the process

03:53 – Dallas becoming a golf hotspot

08:23 – Tournament golf vs casual golf (huge difference)

10:05 – Mental shift when keeping score seriously

12:17 – Pace of play & adapting on tour

12:56 – The “happy bubble” mindset with his caddie

14:38 – Pre-shot routines & consistency at elite level

18:41 – Ray Allen story & competitive mindset

20:32 – Playing at The Players & course strategy

22:53 – Gary Koch joins the podcast

24:00 – His PGA Tour career & transition to broadcasting

25:07 – Why golf is one of the hardest sports to win

26:17 – Journaling & improving performance

27:32 – Difference between practice golf & tournament golf

29:14 – Tiger Woods’ dominance explained

30:32 – Is Scottie Scheffler the next Tiger?

32:41 – Technology’s impact on modern golf

34:13 – Evolution of training & player support teams

35:05 – The iconic “Better Than Most” call story

37:24 – Transitioning from player to analyst

40:16 – Why broadcasting became his passion

Produced by DBPodcasts & Zill Media

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8PBbrxj5qrnGDuA4eIE8Q

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gary koch