The Tournament Code

Cooper Collins, Jack Bergstrom, & Daniel Hamrin

The Tournament Code breaks down what it takes to play elite tournament golf. Our guests include players on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Latin America Tour, Forme Tour, and other various mini-tours, as well as college golf coaches, swing coaches, strategists, and sports psychologists.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

108 episodes
Updated Jul 25, 2025
Explicit

Episodes108

Newest first

Aug 19, 2022 · 51 min
008: Laney Frye – Being Comfortable Playing at a Higher Level, Winning and Learning
Laney Frye (@laneyfrye11) is a junior at the University of Kentucky. As a freshman at UK she had a stroke average of 73.5 and had 2 Top 10s. As a sophomore, she had a stroke average of 72.1 and 4 Top 10s. During this summer, she qualified for the US Women’s Open, played in the Shoprite LPGA Classic, was co-medalist of the stroke play for the US Women’s Amateur, and came in 2nd place in the Sea Island Amateur. Laney explains the nerves that came with being competitive in college so fast and playing the US Women’s Open. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:48) – Laney’s start in golf (03:46) – how Laney’s dad used animals to motivate her (06:47) – praying for teammates (11:10) – setting goals (13:30) – dividing practice into 1/3s (18:18) – transition to college golf (28:58) – playoff to qualify for the U.S. Open (33:28) – working with Ted Scott (39:09) – dealing with tournament nerves (42:28) – win or learn (45:51) – working out for golf to prevent injury (49:34) – Laney’s advice to a junior golfer
Aug 12, 2022 · 1 hr
007: Austin Squires – How to Prepare for a Tournament, Managing Injuries in Golf
Austin Squires (@AustinSquires7) explains what he learned about preparing and staying engaged in tournaments at the junior, college, and professional levels of golf. Austin Squires is a professional golfer who played college golf at the University of Cincinnati. As a freshman, his stroke average was 76. As a sophomore and junior, he improved his stroke average to 71.92 and 71.91, respectively, and won the Firestone Invitational both years. As a senior, his stroke average was 70.62, which is a school record. As a professional golfer, Austin has played on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica and currently plays on the PGA Tour Canada. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:14) – Austin’s golf background (06:41) – the first experience with big nerves (07:52) – Austin’s time at the US Junior AM (08:52) – how he picked the University of Cincinnati (11:16) – how Doug Martin helped Austin grow at Cincinnati (14:26) – how Austin improved his course management (15:09) – Austin’s progression to contending in the US Am (18:10) – his US Am match against Viktor Hovland (21:00) – winning a 27-for-3 playoff for 2019 US Am match play (25:10) – defeating #1 Brandon Wu in 2019 US Am match play (26:38) – what winning his first college event was like (30:30) – managing travel and professional golf (33:15) – injury and what Austin has learned from it (37:55) – how Austin has effectively used the gym (39:50) – how Austin uses the gym on the road (42:59) – how Austin handles tournament prep (46:19) – why Austin focuses on conserving energy the week of a tournament (48:47) – Austin’s work with a mental coach (51:02) – how Austin manages inflammation with diet (53:30) – how Austin uses Trackman (56:41) – drills that Austin does (58:00) – what Austin would tell his younger self
Aug 5, 2022 · 1 hr 8 min
006: Evan Davis – Playing to Win, Staying Athletic with the Golf Swing
Evan Davis (@evandavis2) just finished playing college golf at Belmont, where he set the school scoring record multiple times (most recently 70.19). Evan won the OVC Championship in 2020. As a junior golfer, Evan played multiple sports until he decided to focus on golf. He shares how he has tried to keep his swing athletic and how he focuses on taking one shot at a time. Evan plans to play professionally and will go to Q School in the fall. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (03:37) – Evan talks about his start in golf (08:41) – Getting a swing coach for the first time (15:00) – Playing principles that his coaches have taught him (17:10) – Learning to play on Bermuda grass (21:45) – Learning the meaning of hard work (27:27) – Evan talks about self-imposed pressure (29:03) – Evan talks about his struggles with putting (36:18) – How Decade changed Evan’s game (42:22) – The difference between college events and elite amateur events (43:30) – Playing against the #1 amateur in the world (46:30) – Learning experience at US Amateur (49:42) – The importance of the mental game (51:30) – Athletes that Evan looks up to (58:41) – Practice round keys (1:03:19) – Best shot Evan has hit in a tournament (1:05:24) – What Evan would tell himself as a junior golfer
Jul 29, 2022 · 54 min
005: Leo Herrera – Managing Emotions in Tournament Golf, the Power of the Breath
Leo Herrera (@LH3golf) explains how to he got used to feeling nerves and performing under pressure in big tournaments. Leo Herrera played at University of Central Florida for the 2020 season. Prior to UCF, Leo was an elite amateur golfer who won the AJGA Jim Bell Memorial in 2017, won the AJGA BishopsGate Golf Academy Junior Championship in 2019, and won the USGA Four Ball with Kiko Coelho. Leo walks us through his diet, workouts, and golf practice routines and how they have helped him become a better golfer and well-rounded person. Leo is currently pursuing a career in professional golf. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:26) – Leo’s golf background (10:00) – how breathing can help you deal with tournament nerves (15:49) – leaving college and turning professional (22:39) – the final match of US Four Ball (27:45) – what to do during a practice round (32:07) – dealing with wind on the course (33:53) – nutrition strategies (35:05) – fitness routines that Leo employs (38:55) – working with a club fitter to dial in equipment (43:45) – why Leo is a good iron player and putter (48:15) – what Leo learned by caddying in Q-school (50:30) – evaluating a tournament round (52:21) – what Leo would tell his younger self
Jul 22, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
004: Will Holcomb V – Systematizing Improvement, How to Stay in the Zone in Match Play
Will Holcomb V (@WillHolcombV) explains how he went from playing on a 9-hole course in Crockett, Texas to beating the #1 and #2 ranked golfers in the country at the U.S. Amateur in 2019. Will played golf at Sam Houston State and led them to their first NCAA National Championship appearance. Now, he plays professionally and won his first event at the All Pro Tour Victoria Open in April. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:22) – How Will got into golf (10:33) – the worst mental state he was ever in during a tournament (13:12) – how Will approaches his pre-shot routine (20:31) – the transition to college golf (26:18) – averaging 71 on a broken foot (30:05) – Will’s 2019 run in the U.S. Amateur (38:15) – Sam Houston State’s run to the 2021 National Championship (52:01) – the business of being a professional golfer (55:41) – how Will schedules his tournaments (58:39) – how Will keeps golf in perspective
Jul 18, 2022 · 49 min
003: Jacob Cook – There Is More to Life Than Golf, How to Prepare for a Golf Tournament
Jacob Cook (@Big_Cookie5) tells us how he got to college, realized how good the competition was, and leveled up. As a junior golfer, Jacob played in a variety of high-level tournaments, such as the Western Junior and the Callaway Junior World Championship, and holds the record for the longest playoff in AJGA history. Outside of college, played in the 2021 US Amateur, and qualified for US Open Sectionals in 2021 and 2022. Jacob just graduated from the University of Kentucky and plans on playing professionally. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (00:55) – Jacob’s golf background (07:15) – how college golf was much harder than junior golf (11:00) – playing against high-level pros and amateurs in weekly tournaments (14:20) – the worst mental state he has been in on the golf course (17:43) – how he avoids identifying his self-worth with his golf score (23:20) – how Jacob evaluates a tournament round of golf (28:00) – how he prepares for a tournament (37:42) – what Jacob learned caddying on the PGA Tour (42:00) – what exercises Jacob does to prepare for a tournament
Jul 8, 2022 · 41 min
002: Daniel Booker – Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Tournament Golf, How to Practice Intentionally
Daniel Booker (@daniel_booker) explains how to best prepare for golf tournaments from his experience as a player, college coach, and swing instructor. Daniel played golf at Belmont University and started off strong as a freshman by winning OVC Freshman of the Year. After a lull due to a swing change, Daniel finished off his senior season with 7 Top 20 finishes, with 3 of those being Top 10. Now, he teaches golfers at Golf House Tennessee and is assistant coach at Belmont. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:35) – Daniel’s golf background (08:20) – the difference between smaller events and big events (11:52) – lessons from being a golf instructor (14:33) – the ups and downs of college golf (21:50) – how Belmont prepares its players by lifting (25:00) – the importance of practicing intentionally (37:10) – how to set up the bag for tournaments (40:00) – what Daniel would tell his younger self
Jul 1, 2022 · 44 min
001: Keenan Hickton - How to Improve Consistently at Golf, Bringing Your A+ Game at Every Level
Keenan Hickton (@keenbean1295) explains how he didn’t start playing tournament golf until high school, but immediately converted his high school game into solid college play and started on his college golf team as a freshman. Keenan played golf at Emory University and improved his scoring average in college by a stroke every year. He is #9 on the school's all-time scoring list. Now, he is an assistant coach at Emory and has been playing in mid-am tournaments. --- Follow us: Twitter - @TournamentCode Instagram - @thetournamentcode YouTube - The Tournament Code Hosted by: Cooper Collins (@coopercollins99) and Daniel Hamrin (@DanielHamrin) --- (01:11) – Keenan’s golf background (06:20) – what college golf coaches are looking for in recruits (08:50) – difference between high school events to college events (16:15) – the effect of expectations on golf (20:50) – how coaching has helped his mental game (22:30) – how Keenan consistently improved as a golfer (33:50) – how Emory has used DECADE (39:41) – what Bob Rotella says about being uncomfortable on the golf course