Las Vegas, Nevada (August 27, 2012)–Nick Watney is a true Las Vegas Golf Region resident, having lived in the area for several years following his college days at Fresno St. Over the weekend, Watney won The Barclays, the first stage of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. After the round, Watney told the media it was all about his mindset, which hasn't always been positive in 2012. –By Brian Hurlburt
"I feel like as far as swinging the club, I'm very, very pleased with everything," said Watney, who works with Las Vegas Golf Region resident Butch Harmon. "But my attitude, sometimes I ask (my caddie), where do I lose the most shots to the top players? And he said, 'without a doubt, it's your attitude.' So just getting down, lingering on bad things, and then making more mistakes. So I think if this if this isn't proof enough to myself that staying positive is a good thing, then I don't know what could be." Watney now assumes the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings, a place he held entering the the first event in 2011 prior to not playing well in the playoffs.
Want to play where about two dozen LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, Champions Tour, and Nationwide Tour players live and practice? Click now for our official guide to Las Vegas golf courses. Watney practices at the Butch Harmon School of Golf which is located at Las Vegas resort course Rio Secco Golf Club. Click for the official websites for each.
Watney had his ups and downs at The Barclays, but stayed the course and grinded out the victory at Bethpage Black, one of the toughest tests on the PGA Tour. After the win, Watney said he planned to hit New York to celebrate his win with his wife and two other golfers with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses, Adam Scott and Charley Hoffman.
"The night is young … the night is young," said Watney in the media center following the final round, drawing laughter. "I think my wife and I are going into New York tonight. We are going to meet up with Adam Scott and Tim Clark, Charley Hoffman, and we are just going to try to take it all in. Still, like I said, I am still pretty amped up, and I'm so excited for everything that comes with this. But mostly I'm just proud that I was able to pull it off. I'm not sure what we're going to do but I know we're going to have a good time doing it." Scott and Hoffman are former UNLV golfers, and Hoffman still lives in the Las Vegas Golf Region, sometimes playing practice rounds with Watney. Quotes courtesy of ASAPSports.com.