This story originally appeared in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Gator Country Magazine. VIP subscribers to GatorCountry.com receive the magazine in the mail every month, and copies are available throughout Gainesville.
By Jordan Matich
After a tied-for-eighth finish to lead the Gators at the Inverness Intercollegiate in October, Gator Country got a chance to talk with junior T.J. Vogel of the men’s golf team. Vogel is a native on Cooper City, but initially enrolled at Southern Cal where he was a Freshman All-American in 2009-10 and a 2011 All Pac-10 honorable mention selection. Here’s our Q&A with him:
Q. You made the move out to Southern California, then you came back to Florida. Talk about that experience a little bit and why you decided to come to UF.
I love everything about USC. I love the atmosphere. But all in all, my game just slipped. There were a few factors out there I promised I wouldn’t get myself into when I left. Coming back closer to home where I would be able to work with my dad every once in a while was the main reason, because I know he could help me get to the next level. Also knowing (head coach) Buddy Alexander, he’s the best in the business and I already had that connection with him. So I knew if I was to ever happen, I knew where I would be going. I gave Buddy a call and it’s been great ever since. During the season, he’s shown me a lot, he’s helped me and he’s just a great coach.
Q. Why play the game of golf?
I was the best at it. I played a lot of sports growing up. I played football and basketball, but started golf the earliest. My dad got me into it. He’s a professional golf teacher, so that helps a lot. I like it because it’s an individual sport. If something goes wrong you can’t blame others but yourself. I really like carrying that load on me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, and I like that pressure on myself.
Q. Is there any particular experience you had when you were younger ‘til now that made you want to do this for a career?
I just love the challenge. Golf, you can’t master it. It’s impossible. It’s one of those games where it pushes you to keep doing your best and to try to always get there, even though it’s not attainable. It’s really fun to see what you can become, where you started out and how you’ve progressed.
Q. After you’re done here at Florida, where do you hope to be five, ten years down the road?
I have dreams and aspirations of playing on the PGA Tour. That’s the most important thing to me right now. I want to go back to California and hopefully play the Tour there.
Q. What if one day you decide you don’t want to play the game anymore. What could you see yourself doing?
I guess that’s why I’m making sure I get a degree—so that I have that opportunity in case something goes wrong. I’m really into sports as a whole. I’d like to work with some kind of sports organization, in golf or football or basketball.
Q. Let’s do a few rapid-fire questions: your favorite golfer, and why?
Tiger Woods, without a question. Nobody can do the things that he does.
Q. Favorite course you’ve played at, and where you’d like to play in the future?
Cypress Point —Pebble Beach, California.
Q. Do you have any strange pre-tourney rituals to help prepare yourself?
I don’t think it’s out of the ordinary. I get really psyched up when I listen to music before I play. Anything by The Game. I listen him any time before I play.
Q. How do you think your family and friends would describe you?
They would describe me as very motivated, very humble. I don’t like to boast about what I do. I just go quietly about my business. I’m a hard-worker. I know what I want and what I see myself as, and I go for it.
Q. Out of the guys on the team, who has really stood out to you?
That’s a really hard question! I think we’re really close as a group. I know Eric Banks was quiet when he first got here, but now he’s really starting to get into the team. He’s been great. All of the freshmen have been great. Tyler (McCumber) is my best friend. I knew him before. Tommy (Stewart) is a little more outspoken than I thought (laughs). All in all, the team has been great.