From Canadian roots to sunny southern California

Up-and-coming young golfer Patrick Murphy signs with UCLA

At the young age of 16, Patrick Murphy has already won more tournaments than you can count on both hands; he has played at an international level, been named Player of the Year by the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) and received a golfing scholarship from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). All of this, and he is barely in high school.

“I first started actually playing golf when I was five at Collicutt Siding in Crossfield, Alberta, and I first started playing in tournaments when I was eight,” said Patrick. “My first tournament was on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour in Coaldale, Alberta—I was in second grade.”

Patrick’s family moved to Crossfield, Alberta, from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories when he was just five years old, though he was out on the course even before that.

“My dad first started bringing me to the driving range when I was just 1½ or two,” he said. “He loved to play golf so he’d bring me along with him.”

Solid and consistent

Patrick’s early start in golf certainly seems to have paid off—all his training has so far led him to earn both First Team All-American and 2012 Player of the Year on the FCWT.

“I thought that the Player of the Year Award was really great to win, because it isn’t just like an award you get for having one really good week—it shows that you’re consistent and that you bring a solid game to each tournament that you play,” said Patrick. “It’s easy to win on a streak, but to win on a consistent basis is very difficult. I’m very proud of that achievement.”

Not only has Patrick’s commitment to the game paid off in his array of prestigious golf titles, but it has also paid off in the literal sense with a golfing scholarship to UCLA. As UCLA is currently ranked one of the top five first-division NCAA schools, it’s an honour simply to be offered a position on the team—let alone a sponsored position. Derek Freeman, the coach at UCLA, welcomed Patrick and offered him a great place to help him further develop his golf skills.

“I didn’t expect to commit this early, but I’m more than happy to commit to UCLA,” said Patrick. “I’ve been playing in the States since I was six years old, and I’ve been in contact with them for the past few years—we checked out numerous schools on the West Coast, but it just seemed like the right area and the right fit.”

A down-to-earth high-achiever

Patrick recently had a runner-up finish for the Boys National 16-and-Under Canadian title, and he qualified for the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego at Torrey Pines Golf Course. There, Patrick is hoping that he’ll be able to add another San Diego win to his track record, having taken top spot on the winner’s podium at the San Diego Junior Amateur in both 2011 and 2012.

Patrick is successful not only in golf but in school too—he maintains a 90-plus average and, according to his father, could just as well go to UCLA on an academic scholarship instead of a sports scholarship.

Considering his achievements, Patrick is remarkably down-to-earth—when asked about his most memorable golf experience, he didn’t choose any of his championship wins, but instead described memories of golfing with his father, John, when he was young.

“(My most memorable golf experience) would definitely be winning the two-dollar bets on par 3s against my dad from when I was between six and 10,” he said. “We’d just play, and that’s where I learned to play golf and where I learned to love the game.”

The lighter side of serious

Patrick’s father was the one who introduced him to the game, but now John sees that his son can take care of himself when it comes to golf.

“We’re beyond the point of me telling him how to practise,” John said. “Now it’s just important for me to be around as his father and his friend and enjoying our time together.”

When the two head to the practice range for some father-son time, they take the opportunity to have some friendly competition with one another.

“We’ll have competitions like who can hit the ball in the practice tire or who can do crazy up-downs from the lip of a bunker or behind a tree, or place divots on top of the ball,” said John, “really, anything you can imagine to make the day fun when we go there.”

A winning approach

In terms of actual competition, John noted that Patrick is always one of the top contenders on the course.

“Even sometimes when he’s not playing well, he’s able to work around obstacles and work around the nuances in his swing,” John said.

Patrick said he feels his strength is his short game.

“I’ve spent a lot of hours just chipping and putting and having fun,” he said. “I think it’s more fun than just standing on a range hitting balls all day—you get to try a bunch of different shots on the green.”

When it comes to keeping cool under pressure, Patrick has no problems.

“I really enjoy the high-pressure situations,” said Patrick. “It’s the competition that I love the most about golf. You just have to realize that golf is just a game, and if one day you aren’t doing well, there’s always a tournament next week.”

In the long run, Patrick just wants to continue striving toward his goals and to be successful in his college career at UCLA—though he noted that turning pro is certainly a prospect he would like to pursue.

“If I’m in the right position at the end of college, I hope to turn pro and give it a shot,” he said. “My goal is just to keep having fun, and I think to turn pro would be where I could most enjoy golf.”

Player at a glance

Name: Patrick Murphy
From: Crossfield, Alberta
Birthdate: January 1, 1997
Age: 16
Favourite courses: Paradise Canyon Golf Resort, Alberta; We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Arizona
Accomplishments: FCWT First Team All-American (2012); FCWT Player of the Year (2012); San Diego Junior Amateur Champion (2011 and 2012); qualifier for Callaway Junior World Golf Championship (2013); runner-up Boys National 16-and-Under Canadian title (2013)
Countries played: Canada, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, China
Longest drive: Normal conditions, 370 yards; with downwind, 410 yards
Best scores: Non-competitive: 62 at Collicutt Siding Golf Club in Crossfield, Alberta; Competitive: 65 in Florida on the FCWT