December 2017 | 19 Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net MG: Do you think coaching this event gave you additional insight into your personal match play strategy? Toms: I learned a lot about myself, what I think about match play, how to play the golf course and how to pair people together. It was a lot of fun. You have to consider the golf course, where you put the players out…first, second or at the end. A lot of things go into it, so for me I took a lot of pleasure into trying to figure it all out. Lucky enough, it worked out for us and we won. But I'm sure there are times when you second guess yourself if things don't work out. Whether I get to do it again at any level, I will always have had this experience. It was a very unique moment in my career. MG: As one more opportunity to grow the game of golf, what advice would you give to younger players who aspire to play in this event one day in the future? Toms: I see the event getting even bigger and better. Next time they play, it’s going to be in Australia. That would be quite a goal for some young person, to try to make a team where they can travel to Australia. It's a great part of the world for golf. It would be an unbelievable trip. I know the popularity of the Junior Ryder Cup, Wyndham Cup and other differ- ent events that AJGA does, but this competition is where I see the future of the real Presidents Cup team. A lot of kids will have played in the Ju- nior Presidents Cup on both sides, so I think it will be quite an honor to be part of those teams moving forward to the Presidents Cup. MG: In addition to your philanthropic activities, didn’t you also create the David Toms Golf Academy, as well as sponsor an AJGA event in your hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana? Toms: That’s right. I just feel it’s a good way to give back to the sport and make it possible for young players to have some of the same opportunities I’ve had. Young kids who are committed to golf are the ones who will grow the game for years to come. Continued from page 17 David Toms has competed in three Ryder Cup and four Presidents Cup events. Clearly, he is no stranger to international competition. His thoughts as U.S. Captain for the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup follow here. MG: Jack Nicklaus was Team USA’s Junior Presidents Cup Honorary Captain. What roles did he have? Toms: He was there, with honorary International Captain Gary Player, for the closing ceremonies. It was very special for me because I played for Jack on multiple Presidents Cup teams and played against Gary Player's team as well. MG: You coached some of the best players in the country. Win, lose or draw, prior to the competition, what did you want your players to take away from the event? Toms: The same thing as I always took away from the Presidents Cup myself as a player, and that was to enjoy the event. When you look at how many people play golf and try to succeed either on a professional level or even on the highest junior level, there will be very few players who actually get to take part in this event. You just have to try to relax; it's still golf, even though it's one of the biggest events that you have ever competed in. It was always fun for me to get to know better some of the other players that I wasn’t friends with or hadn’t crossed paths with very often. I also wanted the kids to pull from one another as part of a team and get to know each other and to exchange phone numbers so that they will have a bond forever. MG: Can you tell us about the actual coaching process, and how receptive the players were to your coaching style? Toms: They were certainly sponges and they wanted information and seemed to respect me as a person and as a golfer. I was surprised they were so receptive and wanted information and to know what I thought about everything from parings to the golf course itself. I’m not a swing coach, a golf coach or a short game guy. I’m not there to necessarily teach them anything, because they are great players who got there on their own merits. For me, it was more about organizing them and getting them in a situation where I felt they could be successful. I was very fortunate to have a really good group of young men who seemed to have a good time and bond well. That was the main thing for me, to get them to come together as a team. DAVID TOMS United States Captain INTERVIEW BY MADELINE GORDON, JUNIOR GOLF SPECIAL FEATURES Left: The U.S. Team had some great shots in its bags for the inaugural event The U.S. team drew its players from a variety of states