In the Spotlight: Tom Swanson
10/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Coming into last season, Tom Swanson was ready to make an impact right away as a freshman. However, a hand injury slowed his immediate contributions as he missed the first three events of the 2013 fall season. It would not deter him though. Anyone who knows Tom, knows he is as a person who has the skill to bring out a smile with a crack of a joke here or a witty comeback. As with most of things he does, he took his first season in stride finishing with five starts of his six events and being a part of U-M's first-ever win at the Big Ten Match Play Championship. Fresh off a strong summer of golf, this season he has started two of the first three events and is primed for his third start in California's Alister MacKenzie Invitational. The constant critic of his own game, he admitted he is not where he wants to be, but has used the last three weeks of practice to really hone in on the little things to improve and make that impact he knows he can bring to the Wolverine lineup. As the he and the rest of the Wolverines prep for the MacKenzie, Tom took a few minutes from practice to talk with MGoBlue.com's spotlight segment.
On getting a chance to play a full fall season ... "It's great. Last year coming into the season I was really excited to get here, however I wasn't able to play. That was obviously a letdown. This year it is that new feeling of jumping right back into it for the first time. I have really enjoyed it so far, especially being able to help with the success the team has had so far."
On his thoughts about Michigan's play through three fall events ... "It is about a 'B' right now. We are not disappointed with how we have played. We just definitely know that we could have played better. I guess that is a good thing -- knowing we can play better. That just means the potential we have is still out there for us to reach."
On his thoughts about his own game this fall ..."I am very critical of myself so I would give myself a 'C.' I played pretty well in the summer and right when we I got here things just were not the same. You go through ebbs and flows with golf. I had a little minor swing thing going on, but I have it figure out now, so I hope to improve upon that early grade I gave myself."
On how he would describe his game ... "It really depends on what day. For the most part I feel I am a pretty good putter. When I am really playing well I am putting it well. If I am doing that if feeds into the rest of my game. So, for me it is really just about getting the confidence going. Once I get confident around the greens and on the greens it just really helps the rest of my game."
On if he enjoys the few months away from competition during the winter break ... "Personally, being from Montana, I have always enjoyed that break. I have done it my entire life. It gives you the time to relax and really enjoy the college experience. At the same time we have an awesome golf facility (Weisfeld Family Golf Center), which allows us to come in and really work on our games during the winter months. We also take trips down south during the early spring so it's not like we are completely away from golf our being on a course."
On whom he would want as a playing partner at the Ryder Cup and who he would like to face in a final match to win it ... "I would want to be paired with Keegan Bradley. He is so fun and energetic out on the course I feel it was just be a blast to be part of that. Going into the final match is pretty easy; I would love to face Rory (McElroy). It would be awesome to say you took down the No. 1 player in the world to win the Ryder Cup."
On how he would envision the final Ryder Cup match going ..."I would love to see it come down to the wire. Both of us are eight-under going into the final hole and I sink a 20-foot eagle putt to win it."
On what he misses most from his home state of Montana ... "I miss home cooking. We always grill steaks and there are just days that I wish I could have one. I can't really afford that right now and we don't have a grill so it makes it hard."
On what is one thing people would be surprised to know about you ... "I am kind of a child, but that is in a good way. I would say that I can be immature at the right times."
• Previous Spotlight: Kyle Mueller
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
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