R5, HOLE 17: Austin Smotherman (PGA Pro), Gary Koch (Former PGA Pro/Broadcaster) on Pressure, Process & Greatness, How to Make the PGA Tour

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 Ⓒ 2023 Golf & Adulting LLC c/o Par 3 Podcast - J.R. Smith, Stephen Malbon, DBPodcasts Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8PBbrxj5qrnGDuA4eIE8Q Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.