Pat Perez’ Honest Assessment Of Playing Against The Young Guns

Tour pro Pat Perez is an old school throwback who is fearless, speaks his mind and has no problem telling it like it is. Morningread.com’s Gary Van Sickle caught up with the self proclaimed underdog at this week’s Tour Championship (Perez’ first time qualifying after 16-years).

At 41, Perez is the oldest player in the field and hardly thrilled getting Wal-Marted on drives by the 20-somethings’ ballistic missiles .

On the rise of young players such as Spieth, McIlroy, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama, among others: “Everybody misses Tiger [Woods] and wants Tiger to come back, but we’re talking about a 20-year gap since Tiger, and a new generation has taken over. They’re playing amazing. I just go about my business, stay under the radar, try to make a lot of money and move on. I’ll be very proud of what I’ve done this year because these guys are so good. They hit it a mile past me. The fact that I kind of kept up has been amazing.”

“I can only imagine what kids 15 to 21 are thinking watching Jordan and Justin Thomas and Hideki and these young kids: I’ve got to beat that or I’m not going to be that great. I had Tiger, and that’s what everybody had to compete against. He was just one guy, and you knew you were going to lose to him at least nine times a year, which was fine because that gave you a lot of other tournaments to win. Now, any of these kids can win. They’re winning 15, 16 times a year combined. That doesn’t leave a whole lot. I’m already thinking about the Champions Tour: carts, a couple of beers, nightlife and three-day golf. I can’t wait.”

On not ranking among the Tour’s longest drivers (he’s 110th, at 291 yards): “It’s frustrating because I see these guys, perfect builds, they’re tall and skinny and they’ve got all this strength. Then there’s me, who kind of waddles around. I don’t like working out. I like to sit and do nothing… My game’s a lot harder to play than Dustin Johnson or Jason Day or Justin Thomas, guys who fly it 320. If I could play from their drives, who knows how much money I could make? But I can’t. I’m 60 yards behind them.”

On his chances of winning the FedEx Cup from the 11th position on the points list: “For me, it’s about the same odds as Powerball, because all of the top guys would have to play bad, which they haven’t done all year, and do it all at once, and I’d have to win.”

On how he’d spend $10 million if he somehow were to win the FedEx Cup: “Quickly.”