New Game, New Thinking: Tim Wilkinson profile

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As part of the New Game, New Thinking series, Tim Wilkinson, one of 25 rookies on the PGA TOUR this season, recently spent some time with PGATOUR.com freelance writer Rudy Klancnik:

Tim Wilkinson stands all of 5 feet 7 inches, 160 pounds. But after the first week of his first PGA TOUR experience in Hawaii, Wilkinson towered above his rookie comrades because of a memorable performance that included shooting a 62 and playing in the final group with K.J. Choi. He's cooled off a bit after that white-hot start, but the 29-year-old New Zealand native has turned in a solid opening act winning nearly $700,000 to date. Recently, PGATOUR.com caught up with Tim at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

PGATOUR.COM: Wow, a 62 on your first week on the TOUR. Now that's making a statement.

WILKINSON: Yeah, shooting a score like that and playing in the final group really proved that I could do some positive things out here. That was quite a way to start my rookie season. I didn't play as well as I would have liked in the final round, but the experience really helped me in so many ways.

PGATOUR.COM: Other than a nice paycheck, what were some of the lessons you took away from Hawaii?

WILKINSON: For one, I learned that there a ton more TV cameras than I ever expected. And a ton more crowd noise and movement. I knew it would be more hectic on the PGA TOUR, but I had no idea of all the commotion and movement that goes on before every shot, especially on your final three to four holes. It really makes you focus, and you learn quickly that you've got to step away from the shot if you're distracted. Sure, I occasionally would like to say something to the folks to calm down, but I don't want to lose my composure. And I realize the environment our here is just different, and that's an adjustment you simply have to make.

PGATOUR.COM: Speaking of adjustments, tell me how a cricket and soccer player turns into a stud professional golfer?

WILKINSON: I played cricket to the point where I was considered a pretty good player. And I really enjoyed soccer. But my club offered free golf lessons one day, so I gave that a try. I was about 12-13 years old at the time. That's a little late to start golfing, and since I'm a lefty, I didn't even have a full bag of lefty clubs for my first few years of playing. But I really took to the game and had some nice early success.

PGATOUR.COM: And so you just left cricket in your rear-view mirror?

WILKINSON: Cricket is a great game, but, unlike baseball, you only get one at-bat each game. Now, it's true that your one at-bat might last three hours. But if you get out quickly, you also might be sitting around doing nothing for three hours. I wanted to play something that kept moving and changed often. Golf was perfect for that. You're in control in golf, and everything depends on you when you're on the course.

PGATOUR.COM: Growing up in New Zealand, what was your perspective of the U.S. tours?

WILKINSON: Most of the golf on TV is from the United States, so when it came time to turn pro, I never really thought about playing in Asia or Europe. Everyone wants to play in the U.S., and I certainly always did. And it's lived up to my expectations in most every way.

PGATOUR.COM: As a kid, which players did you closely follow?

WILKINSON: That's easy. Greg Norman, Bob Charles and Nick Faldo. Norman was always in control. When he was on his game, he walked down the fairway like he owned the place and dominated the field. Charles is from New Zealand, plays lefty and won a British Open. And Faldo was always in control of his game, a great course manager. He was more into strategy than Norman from my perspective, but I liked both styles a lot.

PGATOUR.COM: When you're not chipping and putting, what does Tim Wilkinson do for fun?

WILKINSON: I'm not sure about fun, but I love working out. Yeah, that's sort of golf training, but working out really helps me clear my mind. I'm not a big sit-around-the-house kind of guy. I'm not into video games and stuff that keeps you inside. I just have to be moving.

PGATOUR.COM: When will we see you moving up the leaderboard in the near future?

WILKINSON: Hopefully very soon. My game has been giving me trouble of late, but I'm starting to hit the ball better, and I just need some putts to fall. I'll be playing in the AT&T National and trying to qualify for the British Open up in Detroit. Qualifying for an Open and playing well there would be a thrill.