I suffered-I learned-I changed.

Right now, I’m on the ferry headed to Victoria BC to play in PGA Tour Americas Q-School and the first event of the season; the Beachlands Open.  I just finished a US Open and Canadian Open qualifier circuit in New York and Montreal where I played two separate tournament rounds, shot 71 and 75.  I was really sick that whole week, couldn’t eat more than one meal per day for seven days, and I wasn’t sleeping through the night. I’m very proud of how I handled myself, continued to go out and compete, practice, be competitive, push myself, and continue the cycle of learning.

I tee off for round one of Q school on Tuesday. The game plan is simple: stick to the game plan.

I’ve learned a lot over the past year, having some experience playing a PGA Tour Canada-level event, playing some mini-tour events and doing well, and competing in Texas against some good competition. Over that time, I have created a great system that helps me improve after each week and I have seen the progress. I am excited to get this show on the road.

The title of this article “I suffered - I learned - I changed” is inspired from my late uncle, Karim Shamji. It’s very simple, if I experience suffering, learn from it. That is the only way to come out the other side a better version of myself. Mike Kostka, my mental performance coach, has helped me a lot to speed up this learning cycle. By creating a more efficient way to learn from mistakes, and then to conquer them, I can confidently step onto the course each week knowing I will be better.

The Data:

It was pretty simple after Texas, hit greens, and you shoot under par. This was my main focus for May and I did it (see figure 1). My greens in regulation percentage shot up by over 15% (which is a lot) and as a result, I’ve been able to shoot lower scores with ease.

Figure 1: On the left, the tournament data is from March 2024, the right is from May 2024.

My main takeaway from the last circuit is to focus on a few putting metrics and chip slightly better from the rough. Specifically, I would like to make 2 more 7 footers per round and decrease my chipping from the rough, proximity to the hole, by around 3 feet. We’re talking a few percent here, this is the main game, finding that few percent improvement each week and attacking it.

The Mind:

Despite feeling extremely tired, hungry, and sick those few weeks, I had so much fun competing. Being able to dig deep during that US Open qualifier and give myself a chance at qualifying was a highlight. I’ll attach some video highlights.

I knew that I just had to keep myself in the fight (within reach of an under-par round) on the back nine and I did just that. I hit a 340 drive on 15, wedged it to 7 feet and made that putt for birdie to get to even par. On 16, I made an incredible up-and-down for par to stay within striking distance. On 17, I had a 207 par-3 and hit 7-iron to 22 feet. I was so locked in, I don’t even remember walking to the ball, I was so zoned in, and I knew I could make that putt. It hit the lip of the hole and I made par. On 18, I was faced with the toughest driver on the course: you have to carry it 290 to have a decent shot at the green. There was water short right and hazard left. I practiced hitting shots like this leading up to the tournament - I actually remember watching Xander do this at Quail hollow the day before and then he did it again on 18 at the PGA. See the shot, execute. I hit it solid, hit the green with a 9 iron and 2-putted.

In those moments where it is my time to execute, I’ve always tell myself that a good measure of success is whether I can hit it pure. If I can control my variables, make a solid strike, I can be happy with my effort. I hit that putt on 17 so pure and same with the drive on 18 which was arguably the hardest shot I had all week.

Physically, that may have been one of my toughest weeks of the last 12 months, but I knew I had a job to do, I went out and executed my game plan which I was super happy with.

Going Forward:

Q-school and then the tour. I have to thank my sponsors for helping me raise enough to pay for my Q-School entry fee. Your investment will give me the opportunity to win at the highest level. I know my game can compete at the highest level. I know my best can win at the highest level. It’s just about bringing my best every day that I can. Those days will add up.

Thank you to my sponsors:

The Bunker

LRO Staffing

Under Regulation Golf

Just For Him Menswear

R. Ferrier

I’m in Victoria getting some prep with the Under Regulation Team, they’re great people and setting me up for success. See you soon.

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