As a World-Series-winning major league baseball player, Cody Ross knows a thing or two about what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional sports. And although Ross’ days on the ballfield are now behind him, the 40-year-old former-outfielder-turned-serious-golfer now keeps his competitive juices flowing by playing against PGA Tour pros like Chez Reavie and Kevin Chappell at Whisper Rock, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Despite the fact that Ross is a 3-handicap, he says there’s one thing he noticed about the way elite pros play the game that he believes separates them from the rest of us — even if you consider yourself a pretty good player. In this week’s episode of Subpar, Ross explained to hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz exactly what impressed him about pros like Reavie and Chappell.
Why this MLB veteran and ‘golf nut’ passed on the country’s best courses
“The consistency. For you, too, and you, both of you guys,” Ross said, referring to Knost and Stoltz. (Knost is a longtime PGA Tour veteran and Stoltz has played in Korn Ferry Tour events). “Just watching you guys hit irons. You don’t miss the middle of the clubface. Rarely. I know you do, you think you do, but for us being amateur golfers, we hit ’em off the toe [with a 9-iron] and it goes 105 yards, and when you hit it off the toe, it goes 129, 130. Your misses — Chez and Chappy and those guys — it’s just so much fun to watch you guys play and just consistently strike it in the middle every single time.”
For more from Ross — including what he considers to be one of his greatest athletic achievements and his travel regrets during the MLB season, check out the full interview below.
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