December 2017 | 17 Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net JG: Do you think you will see some of these junior players on the professional Presidents Cup teams in the future? Immelman: I really hope so! There’s a huge amount of talent out there. Hopefully, they can find a way to use this experience to make themselves better in the future and make that professional team. JG: You’ve been a Rolex Testimonee since 2002. Tell us about your relationship. Immelman: In 2001, my rookie season on the European Tour, my wife and I were living in London, in a lovely little town called Rich- mond, with a jewelry store on the high street that was an official Rolex retailer. I used to walk past these watches and think to myself that I really wanted a Rolex. By the end of the season, on the day before I left for the Italian Open, we walked past the jewelers again and I said to my wife, “If I finish inside the top 10 this week, I’m buying that Rolex watch.” I finished ninth, and the Monday after the tournament I walked in and bought the watch! From the next season on, I have been a Rolex Testimonee, and it’s my longest-stand- ing partnership, which I am very proud and humbled to say. Rolex is an amazing company, and I’ve met many great friends through them. JG: What is next for Trevor Immelman? Immelman: It’s a difficult question to answer, as I’m at an interesting pe- riod in my career. My one constant is that I have a tremendous passion for the game of golf, as I always have, and so I will always want to be involved in it somehow. I still have dreams and aspirations of playing well and competing at professional tournaments, but I’m also giving a little bit of attention to the broadcasting side, as it’s something that I’ve always enjoyed. I really appreciate the work that the media does at tournaments like this and how important it is for the growth of the game. I’m not en- tirely sure what is next for me, but one thing is certain, and that is that I will always be involved with this lovely game. Continued on page 18 JG: What did you think of the first Junior Presidents Cup? Immelman: It really was a lot of fun, and getting the call from the PGA Tour to see if I would like to be captain was very humbling. I played a lot of American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments back in the early nineties, played for the International Team on the Presidents Cup and have played on the PGA Tour as a professional, so it’s really special to be here. It’s been great to be able to spend some time with the boys, learn a little bit from them and teach them what I can. JG: What was your role as Captain of the Junior International Team? Immelman: The selection process was all based on the AJGA Rolex Rankings, which I believe is the fairest way to do things, so my job was just being out there with the guys, trying to help get the pairings togeth- er and making sure that there weren’t too many language barriers, as we had guys from seven different countries on the team this year. Plain- field is an old school-style course with undulating greens, and a lot of my players had never seen courses like this, so we needed to make sure that everyone felt comfortable in their game throughout the week. It’s really been a tremendous experience for all of us involved. JG: You were a good player at a young age, so what impresses you about the young guys here this week? Immelman: Before I got here, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Most of the guys are between 16 and 17 years old, and right from the moment we walked out on the course I felt that the game had changed a lot since when I played as a junior. The power with which these youngsters play really takes your breath away. They’ve all grown up watching the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson smashing the ball, and now they’re watching Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka and being taught to really let it rip. So their hitting length is impressive, especially for their age. I also noticed that, much like the young professionals are doing right now, these young guys are playing with a chip on their shoulders. They’re into it, they’re excited and they badly want to win. JG: How motivating is it for these young players to be chosen to play at the Junior Presidents Cup, and getting the chance to speak to some of the professionals here? Immelman: First of all, everything for the Junior Presidents Cup was so beautifully put on, from start to finish. When we arrived here and went out to the range, the guys got to watch the pros warm up and get within touching distance of Tiger Woods, and you could see how inspiring it was for them. This whole experience gives them something to shoot for and shows them what is available to them if they want it enough, apply themselves and make the right decisions. TREVOR IMMELMAN International Captain INTERVIEW BY JUNIOR GOLF STAFF Some of the top young players in the world competed for the Internationals Left: The International Team