Zach Johnson - Ed Mylett's Fitness Regimen

Zach Johnson (Zach has won 2 major championships and is one of the greatest golfers in the history of golf), 3rd winningest golfer on the PGA Tour over the last 20 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Ed Mylett?

  I hear so many small business owners say the exact same thing. They just never have enough time in the day. Well, I measure time differently. I've compressed, condensed, heck, I've bent time. My first day is 6:00 a.m. to noon. My second day starts at noon and goes till 6:00 p.m. And my third day, 6:00 p.m. to midnight. I now get 21 days a week. Stack that up over a month, over a year, over five years, and my life's completely different than it would have been otherwise. And if you want to win as an entrepreneur, you have to compress your time, too. And you definitely can't afford to waste it. Waiting weeks on a big bank for capital? Your best bet's to work with my friends at Cardiff. They know how to compress time for entrepreneurs. They get your business approved in minutes and funded the very same day. They're America's favorite small business lender, and for good reason.

• 0:45Ed Mylett?

  Over 20 years in business, over $12 billion deployed to small business across America. Stop letting bank delays slow down your momentum. Head to cardiff.co/ed. That's cardiff.co/ed. Cardiff.co. Real growth, fast funding. Cardiff. Borrow better.

• 1:01Speaker 01

  Mr. President, my company, for me, of the explosion on our rig.

• 1:05Speaker 02

  On October 2nd.

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  Causing massive water displacement and triggering a tsunami. They all heap the blame on me.

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  Tom Cruise is. Digger got us into this mess. And Digger's gonna dig us up. From the director of Birdman and the Revenant.

• 1:18Speaker 01

  What would happen if I stopped drilling? You stop, you freeze to death, that's what.

• 1:22Speaker 02

  With great power comes great deniability.

• 1:25Speaker 01

  I'm not the first nanny.

• 1:27Speaker 02

  Digger. See the trailer online. Only in theaters October 2nd. Rated R. Under 17. Not a middle without parent.

• 1:38Speaker 03

  This is the Ed Miliband Show.

• 1:45Ed Mylett?

  Okay, my guest today is one of the greatest golfers of his generation. Although he was just sharing with me that it didn't necessarily start out that way. This is somebody who is not even the number one golfer on his high school golf team and rarely played the number one in college. In fact, I was reading that he did not even make first-team All-Conference in college. And then he ends up going on to be, and listen to this everybody. He joins, a few guys you may have heard of before, he joins Sam Snead, Sevy Bajasteros, Nick Faldo, and two guys named Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. In the history of the sport he's chosen, or has chosen him, called golf, as the only men in the history of that game to win both the Masters and the Open Championship at St. Andrews.

• 2:30Ed Mylett?

  And so, quite a leap from number two or three in high school to joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Snead, Bajasteros, and Faldo. So, Zach, thank you for being here.

• 2:40Speaker 04

  Oh, it's my pleasure. Thanks for having me, Ed.

• 2:42Ed Mylett?

  It's gonna be good. I want to read something to you, you said, and what I want to do today, I think your great strength is your mental game and your mental approach to the sport and, you know, I have these theories and one of them is that, you know, you're, the more I've been around you, I've seen, you're a business. Kind of like what Jay-Z says, you're, you're not a businessman, you're a business man. And the, the game of golf is a business and the more and more I'm around business people, I think they need to train and prepare like athletes do in this generation to be a modern, a modern, successful business person. And I think more and more athletes have started to train like business people. And so, I want to talk about that a little bit. I read, I was reading something you said. You said, "Everybody talks about this guy's got so much talent because he hits it so far," referencing other guys.

• 3:28Ed Mylett?

  "And he's so athletic, blah, blah, blah." And you said, "I understand that, but that's physical talent. There's also mental talent and that's something I strive to get better at. I've always relished the fact that I can withstand the difficult tests. Some guys fold, some guys falter. And I'm not suggesting all of them do because some guys are better than me in this regard, but I love being in difficult situations and having to execute." He said, "In basketball terms, I want the ball, I want the last shot. I'm not saying I'm definitely gonna make it, but I'm not gonna pass it either. I'm gonna shoot it." And I like that mentality. That's how I was raised. I thought, well, that's how he was raised. So, your dad used to say to you supposedly, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." What did, what does that mean for you? And did he say that? Did he say that?

• 4:14Speaker 04

  Yeah, I mean, there's, yeah.

• 4:17Speaker 04

  What you just recited is something that I continue to, you know, I, I bring that out, tell myself exactly that in, in a lot of instances. I certainly tell kids that, I tell other athletes that and, and and individuals, you know, like you mentioned, in the business world. I mean, You know, it is such an individual game, you know, in the sense that really when it comes down to it, the execution of shots are what people notice or what, you know, your scorecard is indicative of, but, you know, there's more to it than just, you know, hitting a ball and hitting again. There's so much that goes on outside the ropes, inside the ropes, there's so much between the ears, you know, in the process of the game, in the process

• 5:00Speaker 04

  of each year, each week, you know, I mean, there's certain instances for me where, you know, making cuts is almost irrelevant. It's where's the improvement, what's lacking, what do I need to work on, turning the negatives into positives, and all that, all that kind of mentality that, you know, I think athletes have to have. I mean, the best ones in the game, in their sport, you know, really don't fixate on, you know, I guess you'd say, the outcome. They're more concerned about how to get there, and when you get there, you know, you relish that, and certainly want to improve all along, but, um, I've got a great team of individuals, as you know, as you know, Ed, and guys that I trust, and

• 5:41Speaker 04

  trust me, and, uh, you know, I'm not the most dominating guy physically, but I think, you know, as an athlete, that isn't always necessary, especially in this, in this game of golf, that's so mentally demanding, uh, there's just, there's just more to it than a 315-yard carry.

• 5:58Ed Mylett?

  Yeah, the, it's interesting you say, I was looking at your team, and you've got, I think probably starts, you'd agree with your wife, Kim, but I look at, you've got this trainer, Troy, Damon's your caddy, Bender's your swing guy, Brad's your manager, Mo's your mental coach, you've got this group around you, and they were saying what you just said about you. I was sitting on the range when you were hitting balls a couple weeks ago with Brad, and he said, and maybe you could elaborate on this, because business people face this too, right? Like, not everybody's the most gifted communicator, or the best sales guy, or the most boisterous necessarily, but the guys that end up winning are grinders, they're competitors, right?

• 6:36Speaker 04

  Sure.

• 6:37Ed Mylett?

  And I was, and they perform under pressure, you know, if they, it's a big sale, they can close it. If it's a presentation, they give it, they do their best under pressure. And it's, Brad said to me, I go, what is it with him? Because I've played with you, I mean, you're, you're unbelievable player, you're one of the best of your generation, but you're not, you don't bomb at 340. And and and he said his gift, his talent is a is a bigger talent, which is under pressure. He executes as well as he does when there isn't pressure, maybe even a little bit better. And most of the guys he plays with, they're pretty good on Friday. They might be all right on Saturday, but Sunday on the back nine, when they need to make a shot, he can make it. And is that true?

• 7:19Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 7:19Ed Mylett?

  How'd you get that? Were you? Are you that way naturally? Or is that something you've worked on with Mo? Or what is that?

• 7:25Speaker 04

  Yeah, I I think it's probably it's probably a combination of a few things. I mean. You know, for me, I I relish the opportunity. Where the nerves are heightened. I relish the opportunity where truly. You know, the execution of the shot is is is is pressure packed. I mean, that's why I practice and and. You know, I've got certain drills and certain games, I guess you will, that I play with myself that allows me to. You know, somewhat mimic those situations to, you know, without, you know, actually being in it, but. You know, as a kid, as a as an athlete as a kid, I mean, my my life was sports as a kid and. Um, you kind of said it, golf picked me, you know, I mean, I really didn't pick it. I would have rather played probably anything else, but.

• 8:10Speaker 04

  Um, as a kid, I I like the underdog story. I like the individuals, the teams. That, you know, weren't supposed to, you know, I mean, their backs were against the wall and and, you know, they they stepped up. I mean. Growing up in Iowa, you know, it's all. Up there, it's all college sports and it was all those teams up there that, you know, had talent, certainly, and then. But, you know, it was it was. The teams that could rise up to the difficult situations and occasionally knock off the big guys. And I've I've always had them in time. I've always loved that. You know, regardless of who it is or or what team it is. Um, that's always been embedded in me. And then with with Dr. Mo, what I've learned with him is, you know.

• 8:51Speaker 04

  I I think that's probably an innate trait I have or an intangible. Piece of uh, competition I have instilled in me. But alongside of that, what I've learned, and and this is the part that I think I've trained myself with is is, you know. I'm not gonna wow you with a drive. I mean, unless you get wild with accuracy and boring shots, I'm just not gonna wow you. But what I can wow you is just that. I I can I can continually hit. Consistent shots, I, I, I keep the golf course in front of me and I don't, you know, put myself out of, out of play too much.

• 9:26Ed Mylett?

  Mm-hmm.

• 9:27Speaker 04

  And, and, and this game over 72 holes, that can pay dividends. More than that, what I've really learned and understood is what I need to practice and what, what I'm good, going back to what you were talking about in the business world, what aspects of golf am I good at and what can I make better? You know, everybody talks about, well, I, I know my strengths, I know my weaknesses, I gotta work on my weaknesses. Well, well, of course you do. But your strengths, your strengths, and you're, that's probably what got you where you are. Why not improve those? Why not sharpen those and polish those? So, for me, it's my accuracy with my tee shots, it's my wedge playing, and obviously, in the game of golf, you gotta putt well. And I'm not suggesting I'm a great putter, but anybody that's putting on the weekend and they're on television, specifically on Sunday, they're putting pretty well.

• 10:11Speaker 04

  So, you know, bottom line is, is I, I, there's about two or three things in my game. When I go to the range, when I leave the house and practice, you know, I'm gonna hit my six iron, I'm gonna practice some eight irons, you know, I'm gonna do that, but I'm gonna hit more drivers, wedges, and a lot of putters. And that's, that's really what, what does, th- those aspects are, were gonna allow me to climb the leaderboard.

• 10:32Ed Mylett?

  I watched the open, you bogey the 17th hole on the last day, right? And so, you're on the 18th hole, you got, I think it's like about a 25-foot putt, and that putt, inevitably, if you make it, it's gonna put you in a playoff to win the Cleric Jug, right? You ha- this actually happened to you. And...

• 10:48Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 10:49Ed Mylett?

  So, you're over that putt, I'm just curious, you're over that putt, you and Damon are, you're reading the putt, if he helps you read the putt, do you for a second reflect on all the grind you've put in and all the work? Does that give you comfort, confidence, or what are you thinking in that second? I'm curious. What goes into, you won the championship, what's in your head in that second?

• 11:11Speaker 04

  I would say most of the time, no. I mean, you know, all the time and, and, you know, work and energy I put in does not go, does not, you know, surface in that instance. But what does surface is fortunately in that instance, because that one was very vivid still in my mind, is exactly what that putt was. What exactly was in front of me? Well, it was like you said, it was about a 25 foot putt, a little left to right. At the bottom of the, towards the hole, it, it kind of flattens out. It might even go left based on what Damon has seen in his yardage book and from previous tournaments there. We kind of knew that pin placement leveled off. We knew that. So fortunately, I had all that, you know, I had all the information. You know, it comes down to execution.

• 11:53Speaker 04

  And the last thing that went through my mind was speed. And, you know, I mean, because the bottom line is, you, you might know the line perfect, but one, you got to hit it on it. And two, even if you hit it on it, it may not go in if you don't have the right speed. So fortunately, the speed was the last thing that went through my mind, and I'm very grateful for that. I mean, that, that's something that, you know, I continue to tell junior players, other pros is you can make a putt a number of different ways, but your speed is ultimately the most important. And, and fortunately, in that instance, that's, that's what, that's what surfaced for me. Um.

• 12:23Ed Mylett?

  No, what's, what's interesting about that, just, I want to say this to you, just from like a business side for people that are listening to this, a couple of things you said in the last five minutes is bear repeating. That one is that this simple, repeatable, kind of mundane routine gives you security. That's what, I think that's what helps everybody perform under pressure is something they do that's repeatable. Right? It's reflexive. You don't have to think about the million putts you've hit because it's a reflexive action for you. Just like somebody who's well drilled and well practiced in their presentation, for example. And then the other piece, just to reinforce it, is you're in the moment is really what you just said. You say, I don't have time to think about it. I'm in that moment. And that's, a lot of people, it's difficult because there are guys who

• 13:06Ed Mylett?

  have had that putt that are thinking, if I make this, what if I don't? They're, they're, they move forward into the future of what it might look like if they do or don't. Whereas it sounds to me as if you were so in the moment, you didn't have time for other thoughts. Is that accurate?

• 13:19Speaker 04

  Oh, without question. That is, that is exactly right. What exactly is in front of me? And that's the single solitary. Stroke in front of me is a 25 foot putt left to right that might level off in the end. And that's, that's all. And at that point, it, you, you really got to get down to how you prepared, trust in that. All, I mean, like you said, it's, it's all the time and all the energy and all the work you put in. You're not, you don't have to reflect on it, but that should instill confidence. You've been in that situation before. And so it really, it just comes down to, you know, for me, routine, trusting my routine, the process of that. And, and then, you know, the execution is what I can control. I can control, you know, how many steps I take for the, to go into the putt.

• 14:03Speaker 04

  I can take, you know, how many practice strokes I take, how many looks I have of the hole, et cetera. And after that, the, the outcome, I don't want to say it's irrelevant, but I can't, I can't do anything more than what I know. And what I can control. The outcome will take care of itself.

• 14:19Ed Mylett?

  Is the routine the same every time? When you're over a putt?

• 14:22Speaker 04

  It should be. It should be. I'm not suggesting it is every time. I mean, every shot's different, but at, at the same time, it, it really should be. I mean, that's, you know, that's why I have Dr. Mo, that's why I have those coaches. And, and that's something that I continue to try to hone and craft. I mean, it, it, it really should be. I mean, we always think of examples and granted, it's kind of pertinent right now because he's making a comeback, thankfully.

• 14:45Ed Mylett?

  Yeah.

• 14:46Speaker 04

  If you look at Tiger, especially when he was playing consistently, I mean, it, you couldn't tell, if you, if you, if you were rewinding and fast forwarding, you couldn't tell if it was a four foot putt on Thursday on the 18th hole or a six foot putt on 18 on Sunday to win a golf tournament. I mean, it was almost a split second. And, and, and that's just, that's just a great sign of someone that's really disciplined, someone that's really in the moment, someone that really trusts what they're doing, how they go about their execution. That's what we're all striving to do and, uh.

• 15:16Ed Mylett?

  I think that's, I think to you, I think, I think when you say it, you kind of take that for granted. But that is one of the rarest things for an athlete or a business person to be able to do is rely on their routine. Typically, even a guy like Tiger Woods, who's an outstanding player, it's mundane, grinding, repeatable stuff that gives him, like even your golf swing is a highly repeatable golf swing. I think that's one of the reasons that you are successful across the board is your golf swing's repeatable. Not a lot of swings like yours on tour, but it's just, it's a really replicatable golf swing for you. I want to talk about practice just real quick, because I want to get into that, because I got a son who will kill me if I don't ask you this question, and I think business people, this can apply too. What is practice like for you?

• 15:58Ed Mylett?

  In other words, is it, you just said something, you work on your strengths most of the time, but you get tired of it? Is it the same thing typically? Do you mix it up? Or what's practice look like for you?

• 16:08Speaker 04

  No, I think it's a great question. I basically know when I go to the golf course, what I'm gonna do, how long I'm gonna do it, what my breaks are gonna be, when I'm gonna eat, etc. And I think it has to be, though. I mean, you know, I only have so much time throughout the day, and I'm also, you know, I'm also 40 years old, where my body can only do so much. So I go to the gym, that's a typical, you know, start. Get a good workout in, get limber, and hopefully, you know, just feel like your body's in a good position to hit some golf balls and putt and chip. I get to the golf course, and like you said, I bet my 90-plus percent of my practice covers three different things. And that's my driver, my wedges.

• 16:48Speaker 04

  When I say my wedges, I'm talking, you know, 110 yards and in, around the green, distance control, and then obviously putting. So a lot of, you know, my putting specifically would be about 25% mechanics, and then about 75% on feel, on game, on speed. You know, what I've learned in the game of golf is, you know, it comes down to the golf swing, you can kind of say it's probably 75% technical, and then about 25% feel. I think the short game and the putting stroke and putting in particular, it's probably the opposite. I mean, there's a number of ways to do it. And I think it's that seventy, seventy-five percent feel, twenty-five percent mechanics.

• 17:31Speaker 04

  Because it's just, it, it just requires so much speed and feel around the greens that it's just imperative. So, you know, that, that's where I try to do most of my practice. And I, I've got numerous drills, numerous games, and we're always trying to fine tune that. But, um, I mean, I enjoy it. I enjoy the practice.

• 17:48Ed Mylett?

  Yeah, what you do is you, and this is for business guys too. You simulate game situations and you distill it down to the three things, four things, whatever it is, that matter. That business people struggle to do that. It's an important lesson to take away is you've got to simulate a real game situation with a client or a prospect or whatever it might be. And then you've got to distill down the two or three things you really need to be able to execute on under pressure. So, I want to ask you a couple of things. I asked you a couple of years ago. I said, I said, "Do you love golf?" Because, and the reason, the context for this is this. I think some business people, they hear all these things like, "You have to have passion. You've got to love what you do." And I'm here to tell people, I've made millions of dollars in business. I haven't loved what I do every second that

• 18:30Ed Mylett?

  I do it. And I certainly, I certainly fatigue on process sometimes. You rely on process. I rely on process. But let me tell you what you said back to me. It was interesting. Because I remember, I, I've repeated that you said this to me to other athlete friends of mine. And I said, what he said was, he goes, "I don't know. I, I like golf, but I've," and you said, "I friggin' love competing." Like, is that, like, and I know it's hard to talk about yourself this way, but are you kind of like one of those nutball competitive type people? Like, no matter what it is, and that's got to give you some edge. What did you mean when you said that? Elaborate a little bit.

• 19:08Speaker 04

  Yeah. No, yeah, I did say that. You're, that's, that's a really good memory. Uh, you know, yeah, I mean, again, I, I do. I like the game of golf. I mean, you know, I don't, if I take a week off, I don't really have a massive itch to go practice or play like I once did. But I don't mind going there. Fortunately, I like the gym more so than I do the, the game of golf. Just because at this, at this day and age, the only way I'm going to keep competing is if I stay healthy. So, longevity, injury prevention, the gym is a, is a mainstay. So with that, yeah, I mean, I thoroughly enjoy competition. It doesn't matter if I'm watching it, if I'm in it, if my kids are in it, if, you know, my niece

• 19:53Speaker 04

  or my nephew's in it, I just enjoy it. I love, I love witnessing it. Um, you know, I love winning. I mean, there's no question I like winning, but you know, as an athlete, I guess, and as a competitor, I probably get, I don't want to say satisfaction, I probably get more out of losing. I probably get more out of the moments where, you know, I put all the time in and, you know, I'm in the situation where I have an opportunity to win and I don't come through. But man, I still love it. If anything, those moments drive me to be better and I just, I don't know what it is. You know, fortunately, I don't mind the practice and the grind to get to those situations, but I know I'm a realist in the sense that it's

• 20:38Speaker 04

  just not always gonna come, you know, the ball's not always gonna lip in, it could lip out. And that's okay. That's okay. Because I feel like sometime I'm gonna get my time, I'm gonna get my shot, and I'm gonna relish that when I get it.

• 20:50Ed Mylett?

  By the way, is that true? By the way, I think it was a PGA. The year DJ had that issue in the bunker, I think people forget, you could have won that golf tournament. Couldn't you? Is that the year? Is that right?

• 21:01Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 21:01Ed Mylett?

  Okay, you finished like third? You think you finished like third that year?

• 21:04Speaker 04

  No, no, that's right. I tee three. That's correct.

• 21:07Ed Mylett?

  I can hear in your voice the little twinge. But honestly, so you walked away from there, not depressed or bummed out very long, it turned into more fuel for you? Really? Is that right?

• 21:18Speaker 04

  Well, no, I'd be lying to you if I said that. You know, when I left the golf course, you know, the immediate feeling, the immediate, you know, I guess you'd say reflection was, I was pretty upset. I don't want to say I was pissed, but I was mad. I mean... I can look back on it, Ed, and I can tell you, that was at West Point Strays in 2010. That week was the best ball-striking week I think I've had tee-to-green.

• 21:47Ed Mylett?

  Wow.

• 21:47Speaker 04

  At least one of the top three that I've ever had, and it was in a major. And I'm like, if my putting would have shown, it would have been a different story. But it didn't, and, you know, again, if I look back on it, I mean, I made about a 12 footer for par on 18 to tie for third, you know? And quite frankly, we all know Dustin should have won the tournament by two shots instead of, uh, instead of losing it, but...

• 22:08Ed Mylett?

  Right.

• 22:09Speaker 04

  You know, that's irrelevant. So, um, yeah, I mean, you know, it's, the immediate reaction after losing is not necessarily a positive, but if you, if you sit back on it and, and think about it and look back on it, you're like, well, geez, look at all, look at what you did, like you got yourself in that position, you know? The guy that came on top was just not much better that week.

• 22:29Ed Mylett?

  Hmm.

• 22:30Speaker 04

  Or, again, his putt looked in and yours didn't, you know? Or he chipped in and you didn't, you know? I mean, whatever it is, there's such a fine line when you get to the highest level on any sport or any competition or any, any venture, any business. I mean, when it comes down to it, you, you've really just got to accept the fact that you're just not always going to get the outcome that you desire or, or visualize. However, if you keep at it and you trust what you're doing, it's going to happen at some point, and, and, and I, I fully believe in that. I've got great coaches that trust in me and I trust in them, and it's always a big picture, you, you know, the way I say it, you, you gotta have a vision for the future, but your focus has to be right now.

• 23:09Ed Mylett?

  That's really good. Speak to that. I, we don't have too much more time, but I love that, by the way. Um, that's like a replay, that part of the audio right there, Park. So, you, you just described, a few weeks ago, you were talking exactly what you just said. I was sort of surprised, you talked about you get your team together every year and you forecast the next year, reflect on the previous year. And talk about what you you shared that it was a little bit, I was struck, it wasn't all about just wins and losses for you as you forecast because a lot of people are going to hear this audio as we roll out into the new year, their new business year. And you you said some things, I don't know if you remember this or not, but I was struck by, you were more about the measurements of specific aspects of your game than necessarily

• 23:53Ed Mylett?

  the big result. In other words, it wasn't about, I want to win 11 times. It was about, I want to be a hit blankety blank fairways in regulation or whatever it was. Talk about how you approach your planning and your goal setting type stuff for a second.

• 24:08Speaker 04

  Sure, yeah, I mean, you know, what we've learned is, you know, there's usually three or four, well, four or five in particular, but three or four each year stats that really can elevate my golf game and get me in a position to win golf tournaments. I mean, the bottom line is, yeah, you can write your bulletin board goals, your, you know, put them up there and list them, you know, I want to win majors, I want to be in contention in this, and I want to make this team and da, da, da, da. Well, sure, but how are you going to get that, you know? So all of ours are objective based. And and within those objectives is practice. What drills am I going to do? What, you know, what sort of games am I going to replicate so that my practice is transferable? Right? So with all that being said, I mean, we we break it down and get to the point where, I mean, we hashed it out.

• 24:53Speaker 04

  There's a lot of discussion and even heated discussion. I mean, it's it's healthy. I wouldn't want it any other way. Uh, because like you said in the very beginning of this conversation, it's my business. It is technically, it is still my job. I don't know if it's clear cut job, but it it is my vocation and I'm going to give it 110% and I'm going to I'm going to certainly get the right team assembled and and try to get better. I mean, I, you know, I don't want to get stagnant. I want, I don't, I mean, I like the word maintenance and certain things, but for the most part, I want to get better. And so that's what that time is about. It's about getting this crew together. We have a common bond, we have a common end-all, be-all vision for the future. But our focus is the next day. What am I gonna do in practice that's gonna allow me to get in a better position each and every week?

• 25:35Ed Mylett?

  Yeah. I think you, I think so many people think about these big picture things and they don't measure the tangible things they need to do. I mean, like if you're a sales guy, yeah, you'd like to be the, make a million dollars a year, but are you making the phone calls every day? It's so transferable golf and this, it's, it's kind of odd to me how similar they are. You're in your gym right now. People probably wouldn't believe this, but it's, it's 9:30 in the evening where you are and you are in your gym. And I've watched, I was, and you know that I love the gym. I, I was, I think modern business people are athletes. I think they should train physically. I don't mean they need to be ripped or buff, but I think you're careful, although you recommended that one barbecue place to me, so I know you're not careful about every single meal, that barbecue

• 26:18Ed Mylett?

  place. That place was awesome, by the way. But, but I know you're careful. And I, I was at your first win at the Bell South when you won.

• 26:27Speaker 04

  Right.

• 26:27Ed Mylett?

  And, but, but I've watched your body change and your dedication to your body. And I, I've actually also observed your confidence change. Obviously, winning majors probably helps a guy's confidence. But I've watched, particularly a couple of weeks ago when I saw you, your legs, your lower body's bigger than mine. I mean, your, your core and your legs are, I mean, they look like, no, seriously, you watch like a Manny Pacquiao, he's not a big man, but his lower half is so strong. And I noticed that in you. I was, my gosh, his legs have changed. And so, for a second, what's your, what's your dedication to fitness? I mean, talk about that just for a second of how that applies. I think there's a little

• 27:09Ed Mylett?

  secret to it. I think knowing you're in the gym at 9:30 at night gives you some added confidence knowing I'm doing stuff not every guy on tour's doing. I, I don't think it's just the physical strength. I don't think it's just the physical. What do you, talk about your dedication to your body and how that's changed real quick.

• 27:26Speaker 04

  Sure. No, I mean, you know, here, you're always looking for, you know, one little thing that can elevate or take you to another level or even. You know, quite frankly, Trump, your, your peers, your, your opponents, right? I mean, I'm, I'm always trying to figure out what's best. But I, one, it's not rocket science. I mean, I, I can tell you, you know, for me, it's also finding time during the day. Shoot, we're also in the holiday season and my kids are all about Christmas fever right now. And so, you know, we've got activities and homework and all sorts of things going on at home. And, but when that's done, I mean, today I had a good practice, you know, I worked out before I went, had a good practice and now I'm at home and, you know, I mean, I, I, we, we put in a little gym, makeshift gym in here so that I can do exactly what I need to do, if given the time and, and,

• 28:11Speaker 04

  you know, the kids are in bed. I mean, why not?

• 28:14Ed Mylett?

  Right.

• 28:14Speaker 04

  You know, I, I, even if it's just a stretch at the end of the day, so that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'm ready. I mean, it's not, it's not like I'm gonna sit in here and start doing bench press at nine thirty, but I'm, I'm certainly gonna make sure my body is in a position that, like I said, where I, I feel like tomorrow I can tackle it, I can hit it hard when I do go to the gym. And, you know, I can have a successful day of practice. Otherwise, you know, I mean, if I don't prepare for tomorrow, then quite frankly, tomorrow's, today was irrelevant and so is tomorrow. Um, so it's always, you know, it's always, it's, you know, it's always just taking, you know, whatever necessary steps it is for my body, which is my instrument, to be in a, in the proper position. I love,

• 28:54Speaker 04

  you know, I don't mind the cardio as much as I once did. I don't particularly care for it. I don't, I, I don't love it, but I'll do it.

• 29:00Ed Mylett?

  Yep.

• 29:00Speaker 04

  Uh, but I love doing all the exercises that, that Dr. Troy, uh, has put, put in my plate and, and, I mean, I thoroughly enjoy it. I mean, you know, I'm, I'm seeing the benefits of it. I, you brought up one point, I'm not suggesting there's, I, I do appreciate, I wish my wife could have heard that. You know, I, I love hammering my leg.

• 29:18Ed Mylett?

  I could tell.

• 29:19Speaker 04

  I love, I mean, as an athlete, I mean, you know, I mean, I love, I played a lot of basketball, a lot of soccer as a kid. You know, and so that, that stamina endurance really was never much of an issue for me. But at, at forty, again, I, I, you gotta be a realist, you know, I mean, it's not, you know, there's, it's not. You know, you can still stay in great shape and add muscle and get more flexible and that's what I'm trying to do.

• 29:43Ed Mylett?

  Yeah, well, you look to me physically like you're in the best shape of your life. I don't know whether or not that's accurate, but you do. So, I mean, I, I, I think everybody needs to hear that, though. Every business guy ought to be moving their body every day, ought to be trying to gain that little advantage over. If it gives you five more minutes of endurance in a day to make one more phone call, you've outdone your competition. So, I'm with you on a couple more things and I'm gonna let you go because it's late out there.

• 30:05Speaker 04

  Please. Yeah.

• 30:07Ed Mylett?

  I want to ask you a little quote I saw. You said, "I don't play emotional golf, I play emotional golf." Do you remember saying that? What did it mean?

• 30:14Speaker 04

  I guess, you know, I may, I may have bastardized that, but what I'm trying to say there is, is what I've learned in, in certain, especially in certain tournaments, you know, everything's on the line when, when it's, you know, a major championship or a Ryder Cup or Prodigy Cup or whatever it is. When those big tournaments arise, you know, how are you gonna get through those situations? You know, and it's really understanding yourself. You know, the way I play, Ed, may not be appropriate for you, it may not be appropriate for the next guy. I mean, you know, I mean, in, in Ryder Cup play, you know, what's my partner? How is he, how does he play golf? You know, I don't want to, you know, hold him back. You know, I, I've played with the likes of Phil, he's been my partner a few times. I've played with, uh, Hunter Mahan.

• 30:57Speaker 04

  I've played with, um, a lot of guys that played like me, boring golf, and I also played with guys that just kill it, like a Jimmy Walker. So, you know, the point is, is understanding really emotionally how you play the game. You know, for me, it's, I, I, I don't need to let it out. I don't need to let, be that exuberant or that rah rah. Some guys need to let it out. I mean, at the end, I might let it out, but in, in the course of competition, I don't want to say I, I harness it or I bottle it, but I just, it's, it's, it's, it's an execution of a shot and then it's a circle. And I could go through it again and do, and do it, and, you know, for the next shot, it's the same thing. It shouldn't be any different. So, that's how I've always approached it. I've learned that. I think in the cups in particular, but also in major championships.

• 31:42Speaker 04

  My emotions will get the best of me if I don't play the emotional golf that I know. And that is really trying to take it out of it. I don't, I just don't need it to, to be successful.

• 31:51Ed Mylett?

  That is awesome. That is awesome. If you go, I like that. If you go back to the beginning, let's go back more. We'll go to the beginning to wrap things up. When we said this to me, it's actually, we passed this over, but it's one of the great stories in sports in 20 years. It really is that a guy, everyone tells the story about Michael Jordan, you know, supposedly didn't make his varsity basketball team. I, I'm highly skeptical of that story, but I, I know you didn't. You know what I mean? I just, maybe for a day he didn't, right? But he's Michael Jordan.

• 32:19Speaker 04

  Right.

• 32:19Ed Mylett?

  So he's physically gifted, but I know, I'm around you. I know you're not six, four. I know, I know you weren't gifted with every, what changed? So you, is it, I have a theory and I think every business guy that I know that's very successful, from our new president to, you know, guys I know in, in Transamerica, Aegon, have kind of a coach. And that coach sometimes guides them through their business swing. Is running into Mike Bender and him changing your, is that the primary difference, do you think, in changing your game from a guy who's so-so in high school? You know, I read you got one, one division one scholarship offer and you,

• 33:01Speaker 04

  Right.

• 33:01Ed Mylett?

  You're, you won the Claire Judd in the Masters. I mean, come on.

• 33:05Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 33:05Ed Mylett?

  So is it, was it, was it that coach thing? What, what is it? Is, is that part of it?

• 33:09Speaker 04

  Well, I, yeah, for sure. If you're, if you're gonna find one individual, you know, I mean, it's hard to really pick one. I mean, it really is. I'm not suggesting that just to plug my team. It's just, it's just very difficult.

• 33:20Ed Mylett?

  Yep.

• 33:20Speaker 04

  I mean, he's been with me the longest, uh, quite frankly, even before my wife, but, um, so I've known him, you know, I've known him since 1999. So we've been together for 17 years and yeah, he, I mean, he broke me down and built me back up. He saw something in me that, you know, it kind of took a chance on me, if you will. I mean, I didn't have any money then, shoot, I was playing the mini tours and just trying to, you know, survive, living out of my trunk. So, yeah, I mean, Mike would be certainly at, at the forefront of that. And then the other individuals that came alongside of him just enhanced it. But the, the other factor there. Specifically for me was, I was a late bloomer and everything. I was late growing. I was late

• 33:58Speaker 04

  with my athleticism, with, with my, uh, just ability to compete. I mean, just every, everything was just a little bit late. I mean, I, you know, I don't know. I mean, I guess, you know, I know this is a, the only example I can give you, and it's, I guess there's some coincidence and irony, both involved, is, you know, from another sport would be Kurt Warner, right?

• 34:21Ed Mylett?

  Yes.

• 34:21Speaker 04

  He played at the University of Northern Iowa.

• 34:23Ed Mylett?

  Yeah.

• 34:24Speaker 04

  Fifth year senior starter.

• 34:25Ed Mylett?

  Mm-hmm.

• 34:26Speaker 04

  He was boxing shells at a grocery store. He plays the arena football league and maybe one other league, and the next thing you know, he's a two-time NFL MVP.

• 34:35Ed Mylett?

  Right.

• 34:35Speaker 04

  You know?

• 34:36Ed Mylett?

  Yeah.

• 34:36Speaker 04

  Uh, we went to the same high school.

• 34:37Ed Mylett?

  No way. Are you kidding me?

• 34:39Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 34:40Ed Mylett?

  Oh, my gosh. That is strange.

• 34:42Speaker 04

  I know, but my point is, is maybe, you know, and I don't know what it is. I mean, you know, thinking of my childhood, and I know Kurt, shoot, when I was in high school, or growing up, Kurt Warner was a basketball player. He, I mean, he was the quarterback, but he was a better basketball player.

• 34:55Ed Mylett?

  (laughing)

• 34:55Speaker 04

  You know, and, and when I was growing up, I think my, my family certainly would have said, "Well, he has a pretty good jump shot and he can kick the ball okay."

• 35:01Ed Mylett?

  (laughing)

• 35:02Speaker 04

  Golf, eh, you know, golf, eh.

• 35:04Ed Mylett?

  That's amazing.

• 35:05Speaker 04

  You know, that kind of thing. So, you know, it really wasn't, you know, I wasn't, I wasn't like a superior athlete. I was, I was moderately skilled and I just loved to compete. And

• 35:14Ed Mylett?

  Yeah.

• 35:15Speaker 04

  It's amazing when, when, I'll tell you this, it's amazing once, you know, I got to college, all my sports time was golf. I left college, all of my time was golf. And really, you know, the dramatic, the dramatic change happened really when I was able to devote all of my work time

• 35:31Ed Mylett?

  Mm-hmm.

• 35:31Speaker 04

  to golf. And then again, meeting Mike, meeting my wife, meeting Brad, meeting all these guys. And it, every little step along the way has just gotten, you know, it's just gotten that much better.

• 35:40Ed Mylett?

  It's such a great story. Do you ever sit back? I'm curious. By the way, I'd give hope to all you late blooming business people that hear this too. There's time. There's a chance. And do you, do you, do you ever sit back? I'm curious. I, I, sometimes this happens to me, but are there days where you, you go, "What the heck?" Look at, like, I know you just moved into a new home. Like, do you ever go, "Can you believe this is happening?" Or are you so used to being this way now that it's hard to remember how it used to be?

• 36:09Speaker 04

  Uh, a little bit of both, yeah. It's a little bit of both, there's no question. I mean, we, we, I mean, Ed, you, you've been back there and you, you obviously know a lot of, uh, we have a lot of mutual friends, but I mean, I went back to Iowa for Thanksgiving and I was back there and, and saw some of my trans America, you know, people and I, I, you know, you, you're, you're, I'm back where I grew up and I'm like, damn, this is where it started, you know, and now look where I'm at, you know, I mean, that, yeah, you, you might have, that, that sort of thing kind of dawns on me occasionally. Now I'll never want to lose that, I don't ever want to forget that.

• 36:40Ed Mylett?

  Yeah.

• 36:41Speaker 04

  Um, you know, if anything, I, what I don't want to forget is those, you know, three to four years where I literally was living in my car and trying to find the next super, you know, Motel 6, Super 8 that I could crash at to play a golf tournament.

• 36:54Ed Mylett?

  Unbelievable.

• 36:54Speaker 04

  Those are the years that I, I really want to continue to reflect on and relish and learn from because that, that makes, you know, the whole, uh, getting to the PGA Tour that much sweeter, getting to, you know, or seeing your dreams realized that much sweeter.

• 37:09Ed Mylett?

  No question, man.

• 37:11Speaker 04

  But, you know, I, I'll tell you, I mean, it, you know, I, I've, I've, I've had some success and I've tasted this and I've tasted that, I've been in this arena, I've been in that arena. And, and, you know, it's fulfilling for a, a period, but when it comes down to it, it's not the most fulfilling thing in life. And I, and I don't ever want to take my, my, my profession, my vocation, I don't ever want to make it my number one priority. And I never, I hope it, it never will be, it never really has been. There's times, you know, where I have a reality check and my wife will, you know, you know, proverbially slap me around a little bit and get me back going, but, you know, the moment that, that my job rules my life is, is the moment that I, it's going to get me, it's going to, it's going to chew me up and spit me out. So,

• 37:55Speaker 04

  you know, you've got to have perspective, but I love the journey. I love the jour-, I love the work, I love the journey, and, uh, I wouldn't change a second of it.

• 38:02Ed Mylett?

  I love this call. Like, that's my favorite part about you is what you just said, and that was my last question, so we'll finish with that. I love what you just said, my favorite thing you said. And that is that I know for you how important your family is. And, but the thing I want to finish with, if you don't mind, and that is that I, the thing probably I admire a little bit even beyond that is your faith. And I know, I know that that's not something athletes talk a lot about, but- I'd be curious as to how, if you wouldn't mind just saying for a minute, and we finish on that, how central that is to your life, does it give you comfort when you're playing the game, does it give you perspective, how does your faith, I guess, find its way into

• 38:45Ed Mylett?

  your golf game and the rest of your life, what's its place in your life, if you don't mind elaborating on it?

• 38:49Speaker 04

  Not at all, not at all, I mean, you know, what I've, I guess, in any, in any profession, and you get to a certain age, you're always kinda like, okay, why am I here, what's the purpose of this, what's, you know, is this where I'm supposed to be, you know, I mean, is this, is this, is this where the Lord wants me, or, you know, whatever it is, and, you know, I've had many a moments where I've asked that question, and, you know, it never, you know, I pray about this, I pray about that, and may not, I may not get the answer I want immediately, but in time, my prayers are answered, and, and it's, it's one of those things where if I sit back and look back on it now, Ed, it's, I mean, my life's

• 39:32Speaker 04

  been a complete blessing, and, and it starts with the family that raised me, it starts with the wife that I met along the way, and now having three kids, and it just so ha, just so happens that I hit a golf ball, chased it, and hit it again, and, you know, but that's, again, I, if my profession defines me, I, things are just gonna go completely askew, and, I, I love, I love the fact that, you know, the Lord gave me some intangible, I guess innate, you know, traits where competition, and, you know, being, being a competitor and athlete is one of them, and I don't, I don't, you know, I, I know that's where he's got

• 40:13Speaker 04

  me for a reason, I, I understand that, you know, the way I see it as a Christian, my ministry is under my game of golf, that's how I can certainly, um, expand on, and, and people can get to learn about what Zach Johnson's all about, what is, what is, what his priorities are all about, and, and, you know, and it really is, it's faith first, and family, and that kinda thing, I mean, I, if you're gonna get me, you're gonna get all of me, so, you know, I, as, as a believer, as a Christian, it, it just helps me align

• 40:45Speaker 04

  My priorities and each and every day, you know, it again, every day can be a struggle. It doesn't matter what stage of life you're in, it doesn't matter where you are, where you live, what you're up against, but when it comes down to it, you know, if you firmly believe that there's a higher calling and in my instance in Jesus, I mean, it doesn't matter what I'm going to tackle, I know in the end, uh, he's got my back and um, you know, I'm not suggesting it's going to be W's wins and losses, that that part's irrelevant, but in the grand scheme of things, you know, I don't want my legacy to be wrapped around in golf, but my legacy should be wrapped around the fact that, shoot, he treated people the way they were supposed to be treated, he's got three great kids and, and, you

• 41:30Speaker 04

  know, and he calls Jesus Christ the Savior. That's really all that matters.

• 41:33Ed Mylett?

  That is wonderful. By the way, and you do do that, you've actually got me a little choked up there because I love what you stand for and I appreciate you being bold enough to stand up and say it as well. So, I really, Zach, I gotta tell you, I, I enjoyed this very much and I know the people that will hear it.

• 41:50Speaker 04

  Likewise, hope we can do it again.

• 41:52Ed Mylett?

  I'm sure you're dying to, but I gotta tell you, I enjoyed it and I know the people that are going to listen to it will as well. So, God bless you, brother, and I appreciate the time and I know the people that listen got great value from it and get a little bit more insight into what's made you so successful. So, thank you so much.