In some ways, Ryan McCormick is far from his days playing the courses of Monmouth County. In other ways, it's still very much the same—grinding and fine-tuning his game to reach the next level.
"There's a reason why golf attracts so many different types of people," McCormick says of the sport's perpetual challenge. "It attracts the most accomplished athletes and business leaders, all the way down to people who are just obsessed with the game. It's what's great about the game; it's not discriminatory."
McCormick places himself in that "obsessed" category. "I've been a golf nerd and golf nut my whole life," said McCormick, a pro on the Korn Ferry Tour. He played 27 events on the PGA Tour in 2024 and is working to get back there.
"When the Korn Ferry Tour comes to town, we may not be the biggest event in town," McCormick shares with a knowing tone about life on golf's minor league, which takes him from Buenos Aires to Boise and beyond.
Born in West Long Branch, McCormick grew up in Middletown and began focusing on golf at Mater Dei High School before moving on to a decorated collegiate career at St. John's. He turned pro and earned his PGA Tour card in 2023 after finishing in the top 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour. McCormick didn’t stick on the PGA Tour and is back playing Korn Ferry events this year with eyes on a return.
"Incredible," was McCormick's one-word summation of the difficulty of the PGA Tour.
Though he didn’t remain on the PGA Tour, the experience was invaluable. McCormick played in events he dreamed of while watching on TV with his dad, including the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. "That was really awesome," McCormick notes. "It was just an unbelievable place."
Whether you're trying to break 100, make your high school team, or set a course record—McCormick has tips for anyone grinding it out on their local muni course. He even set a course record at Charleston Springs in Millstone with a 59. "It was a great experience. That one's my favorite," McCormick says of the achievement.
McCormick shared a few tips for golfers of all levels:
Leaning into Athleticism
"If you have an athletic background, use that. Try to feel like when you have a golf club in your hand, you feel the way you do when playing other sports. It's very closely related. If you've played other sports, try to make it as much like that as possible."
Hooks and Slices
"If you see your ball curving to the right, try to make it go the other way," McCormick explains, knowing it sounds easier than it is. "If it's going one way, try to overcorrect and make it go the other way. You want to try to find a middle ground there." Adjusting your stance in the tee box is one way to experiment with that.
Inside-Out Game
Most golfers want to crush it off the tee, but the reality is that most players can't consistently hit the fairway with a 250-yard drive. To compensate for an errant drive, McCormick recommends focusing on the short game.
"The easiest way for someone (who's trying to break 100) to lower their scores is to focus on putting and chipping," McCormick shares, adding that mastering the game from 150 yards and in is a good strategy. "Any time you can get out to the putting green, it's really going to help your scores."
Ryan McCormick - American professional golfer
Stats: pgatour.com/player/46113/ryan-mccormick
Instagram: @mccormick__ryan
"It attracts the most accomplished athletes and business leaders, all the way down to people who are just obsessed with the game. It's what's great about the game; it's not discriminatory." - Ryan McCormick