New Game, New Thinking: Matthew Borchert profile

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As part of the New Game, New Thinking series (click here to learn more), PGATOUR.COM freelance writer Rudy Klancnik profiles Matthew Borchert.

What do you do when you just missed the cut at Torrey Pines, your third PGA TOUR start, and you're about to set sail (in the family sedan) for Pebble Beach just seven or so hours up the coast? You stop off at the Hearst Castle, of course. PGATOUR.COM caught up with 32-year-old rookie Matthew Borchert after he and his wife toured the historic landmark and had jumped back on the Pacific Coast Highway heading north.

PGATOUR.COM: So, how was the Castle . . . still there, right?

MATT BORCHERT: It's great. I had already seen it once but my wife hadn't so we figured we'd check it out before we got rolling to Pebble.

PGATOUR.COM: It's always nice to see how the other half lives.

BORCHERT: Yeah, that's for sure. Don't see us moving in any time soon.

PGATOUR.COM: Obviously, the commute to Pebble would be nicer if you had a trophy in your backseat, but how has life been thus far on TOUR?

BORCHERT: It's been more than I could have hoped for really. I didn't play well at all this week but those were two pretty difficult days. Some guys who played the Open last year said the South Course was harder than last summer. That made me feel good for a few minutes, but not much. I need to play better than that.

PGATOUR.COM: You did make the cut at the first TOUR start of your career.

BORCHERT: Yes, I played well at the Sony and made it to the weekend. That was a nice way to kick things off. On Saturday, I was paired with Tadd Fujikawa and that was a circus. With all of the interest from fans and the media in following him, I wish I could have stepped up and played better. I ended up struggling all weekend and finished near the bottom, but it was a good start regardless.

PGATOUR.COM: It must be like a breath of fresh air just being out here after struggling your way through seven consecutive q-school gauntlets.

BORCHERT: It's amazing to be here. I appreciate everything I've got and this experience on the TOUR is fantastic. I was in shock when I was in position to qualify for a season on the Nationwide Tour and then I got out and go crazy low on the final day and make it to the PGA TOUR. Wow, that was fun.

PGATOUR.COM: When fans see you coming down the fairway, what should they look for from Matt Borchert's game?

BORCHERT: I'm not a big bomber, that's for sure. If you want to watch 350-yard drives, go see another player. I'm consistent to the point of being boring. But if I can be boring enough to be out here for 10-plus years, I'll take it. I'm the journeyman TOUR guy who hangs around and makes a nice living. That's my game.

PGATOUR.COM: There must have been quite a few sacrifices from a financial and emotional standpoint to fight through year after year in q-school.

BORCHERT: I'll tell you about sacrifices. My wife and I have known each other since high school (in Orlando) and got married in 2003. We couldn't afford our own place so we moved in with my parents and lived there until 2007. It's no secret that my wife and my parents don't see eye to eye on everything. Living so closely for this long is never easy. But we made it work and I finally made it out here. Now I want to stick around. To this point, we really haven't had a chance to plan out a defined future together, including any talk of kids. That's next. Right now, we're taking it round by round.

PGATOUR.COM: Sounds like your wife is with you on the West Coast Swing. Do you plan to travel together on most events?

BORCHERT: Probably not since she works full time at Universal Orlando as a buyer in merchandising. At some point, maybe she won't have to work if I can start making some serious money out here. Right now, I'm plugging away and we'll see what happens.

PGATOUR.COM: So if we fast forward five years and you've got a half dozen wins under your belt, should we expect to see you and wife on the cover of US Weekly?

BORCHERT: Very doubtful, at least not the cover of US Weekly.

PGATOUR.COM: This week at Pebble is something every pro looks forward to. Is this your first time at the course?

BORCHERT: I actually played it in the 1999 U.S. Amateur. My father caddied for me so I've got some good memories of the place. And I'll tell you something: that place can't be set up tougher this year. If it is, we're all in serious trouble. In 1999, the folks at Pebble were testing their 2000 U.S. Open set up on us so the rough was unbelievably thick. That was a test. I'm hoping to be in fairways this week, but if I do happen to be in the rough, I hope to at least see the ball this time.

PGATOUR.COM: Your father was a big part of this journey. Tell me about his impact.

BORCHERT: Living with my parents enabled us to save up enough money to buy our first house. And before my dad became fatally ill with cancer, it was him and my uncles who actually funded my way into the Golden Bear Tour. That started it all. He and my wife are my true heroes through this whole thing.

PGATOUR.COM: Are you a guy who writes down goals or more of a shot-to-shot personality?

BORCHERT: I told myself to hold off on goals until after the West Coast Swing because I knew these courses could give me some trouble. Now that I'm about to play Pebble, I think I'm comfortable saying that my goal is a top 125 finish and to win at least one event. I know a few of the Florida courses pretty well, including Bay Hill and PGA National. I know how to attack those places and play on that surface. I'm looking forward to Florida.