Loren Roberts on the US Open Playoff, Bay Hill, and Playing in the Ryder Cup
6/2/202650 min
Loren Roberts is one of the most decorated players in Champions Tour history, with eight PGA Tour wins and 13 more on the senior circuit, and Tommy Thompson sat down with him for one of the most personal conversations Links for Life has ever had. Loren walks through his unlikely path to the tour, the 1994 US Open playoff against Ernie Els that still sticks with him, and the faith commitment that reframed everything, including two putts, same prayer, two very different outcomes. He also shares what he sees most average golfers doing wrong on the greens, and the one drill that fixes it.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
- How Loren got into golf later than most and almost became a club pro instead
- The story of selling shares of himself to ten club members to fund his first year on tour
- What it felt like to receive the Bay Hill trophy from Arnold Palmer, twice
- The three-way US Open playoff against Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie, and the prayer Loren said over that final putt
- Why representing his country in the Ryder Cup made him more emotional than any tournament win
- His number one putting tip, focused on speed over line, and the one-hand drill that unlocks it
(0:00) Intro
(4:17) Starting golf late, road to tour
(10:36) The Bay Hill win that changed everything
(18:42) Faith on tour and the Bible study community
(22:00) Same prayer, two putts, two outcomes
(27:07) The Ryder Cup and playing for your country
(39:46) Putting tip and the one-hand drill
(44:42) Faith, forgiveness, and a closing life lesson
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTommy Thompson· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Hey friends, welcome back to another episode of Links for Life, the intersection of golf, growth, and God. And today, I have really the awesome privilege of sitting down with one of the legends of the game, Lauren Roberts. Um, and this is such a privilege for me. Uh, I've had the opportunity through my brother and sist- sister-in-law, uh, Andy and Susie Callen, to get a chance to sit down with Andy and Lauren- Oh, boy ... over lunch. Uh, I guess it was probably about a year ago or so, Lauren, and, um, we had a delightful- Yeah, yeah, it wa- it was ... it was just great, great to get to meet him, and I have followed your career, um, probably from the very beginning, 'cause I've been a long time golf fanatic. And so- Yeah ... admired not only everything that you've accomplished, but how you carried yourself through all of the years. And so to have a chance to sit down and have this conversation, Lauren, is just a great privilege. So welcome to Links for Life.
Loren Roberts· Guest1:28
Well, thanks for having me, Tommy. Yeah.