Q & A with...Chris Wheeler
Feb 14, 2003 | Men's Golf
Feb. 14, 2003
Just a sophomore, Chris Wheeler is the top player on the Tulane men's golf team and one of the country's elite collegiate golfers. The Allen, Texas product posted a stroke average of 71.8 during the fall to lead the Green Wave. As a freshman, he became the first Wave golfer since 1996 to earn first team All-Conference USA honors.
What is your major and why?
"Business management. It's kind of a general thing and I like to leave my options open, because you can't get too specific on the golf team because we miss too much class."
When did you start playing golf competitively?
"I've been playing for a long time. I played in my first tournament when I was pretty young, like nine, maybe just around the local city team."
Why did you pick Tulane?
"The good junior golfers travel the country and play in tournaments all around against the other better junior players and the ones that have the money to travel. Coach Shaw recruits players from these tournaments."
What has been your most memorable moment at Tulane?
"It is kind of a toss-up because I had a good start at conference last year, which was real exciting because I was beating the number one player in the country at the time. I did end up beating him for the tournament, but he didn't have a very good tournament. He actually went pro recently. I shot a 68 to open, and that was really exciting. But also this last semester, our last tournament, I had my lowest score in college so far (66), so that was pretty exciting. Actually, I just changed my mind. My most memorable moment was on my very first par 3 hole, in my very first college tournament, I made my first hole-in-one."
How is life as a student athlete?
"It's pretty hectic. Thursday, we all got up early so that we could fit in a morning workout because we workout three times a week. I had to wake up at 6:20, 6:15 to be there. Yesterday was just running, but sometimes we do full workouts. Then I went to class until about 12:15. After class, I didn't even have time for lunch. I had to get it on the go because we had qualifying and we teed off at like 1:30. Soon as I got done with qualifying, I came home and did homework before I went to bed. And sometimes, I have night classes. So there is not much of a chance to sit down and relax pretty often."
What do you do to relax?
"I watch TV. I live off-campus, so it is a little less stressful than relaxing last year when I lived on campus. I just try to relax basically. Just try to sleep, grab a nap."
What is your favorite cartoon character, especially on TV?
"I'm huge cartoon guy. I'm a fan of the Simpsons, Homer being my favorite. But a little while ago, I started watching this Japanese animation like Dragon Ball Z and stuff. I like to watch that every once in a while just because it is crazy."
What is your philosophy on the golf course?
"Grip it and rip it. That's me. I have a very aggressive personality on the golf course. I don't hold back very often. I think in the media guide, coach compared me to a Texas gunslinger, which I don't know anything about that, but I think that it was funny. I don't spend much time over the ball. I'm a very fast and quick player. I usually shot for low or don't shot at all."
Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
"Probably, I hate to use the clich?, but probably my dad. He was the one who put the club in my hand when I was like 4. He can't stand to watch me because it makes him too nervous. I always talk to him about golf. My coaches have all been great throughout the years. My high school coach was huge on me also. She's an extraordinary lady. Coach Shaw brings a whole new aspect. Everyday is getting better with him."
Who is your favorite professional golfer?
"My favorite, he was a rookie on the PGA tour last year. His name is Peter Langer Lonard. I like him because he came to the Compaq Classic, and we get the opportunity to help out at the Compaq, being a golf team. I got to speak with him a little bit. And then I watched him hit balls and we have a lot of similarities in our swings. I have a very unorthodox swing. It is very short and quick and so is his. And then he did well and I was impressed. He is probably my favorite right now."
What is your dream vacation?
"In reality, right now, probably home in Texas because I have a girlfriend back there that I miss. But if I go anywhere, I would go somewhere tropical, like the Caribbean islands or something like that."
What is your favorite food?
"Right now, I am trying to gain weight. I'm not skinny, but it would be better if I could get some muscle mass behind me. I've been working with the nutritionist trying to gain weight, and I was doing well right before break. I like to eat meat. I'm a big meat eater. Then I went home and lost five or six pounds over Christmas break, go figure. I guess my favorite food is macaroni and cheese. The microwave-able stuff."
What is your relationship with professors
"Professors are tricky. Some professors are real strict and will refuse to work with players when it comes to missing classes or tests. And other professors are great. I always try to explain my situation how I am going to be missing class, and I am supposed to tell them in advance, that there is nothing I can do. It just depends on their policy. There is no real standard for them to go by."
Any random thoughts, comments?
"I think that it is going to be a good second semester for us. We struggled to finish. We struggled to come together in the first semester. We had flashes of just awesome play, but then there would be a counter-balance. I think that this semester especially, we have our tournament coming up in the beginning of February, and that would be a real big chance to break through, and I'm pretty excited about it. The guys on the team are playing well despite the (cold) weather, and I'm just excited."
