Northwestern University Athletics
With an Eye On the Record Books, Wu Readies for Final Season
2/12/2018 1:53:00 PM | Men's Golf
By Jake May
NUsports.com Correspondent
Although this is Dylan Wu's final season on Northwestern's men's golf team, his most vivid memory comes from the first chapter of his NU career.
As a rookie, Wu won the individual title at the Gifford Collegiate.
"I remember the last four of five holes really well," said Wu, describing how he and men's golf head coach David Inglis navigated the course on their way to victory that day.
It was an impressive and meaningful victory for Wu, who grew up in Oregon and was eyeing primarily Pac-12 schools before a January visit to Northwestern changed his mind.
That early win offered a glimpse at Wu's potential, but how did he become one of the best golfers in school history? As of this writing, he sits second in school history in stroke average, trailing only former world number one Luke Donald only by about half a stroke.
Both player and coach point to Wu's improved mental game as the catalyst.
"He's really fiery, and that's what makes him really good," said Inglis, acknowledging that Wu's ability to harness his emotions allowed him to make significant strides.
Wu agreed, saying that "a mistake on one hole would affect [his] next three or four holes. … I wasn't mentally strong enough to fight with what I had."
Wu points to the time between his sophomore and junior years as a period of significant improvement, noting that he took charge of his own mental growth. He did so knowing it would be his responsibility to do the same out on the course. The emotional edge stayed, but Wu's focus shifted to an "every stroke counts" mentality established by grinding through poor play, analyzing his game only after the tournament concluded, and not worrying about factors outside his control.
That mental maturation is what propelled Wu from a talented golfer to a golfer with legitimate professional aspirations.
Inglis says there was no need to change Wu's "Golf DNA" by making him less emotional. Once refined, that competitive fire turned Wu into someone who thrives in the big moment.
"Under pressure, he's excellent," said Inglis bluntly.
Once Wu shored up his mental game, the results and accolades piled up.
He won individual titles at the Redhawk Invitational during the 2016-17 season as well as the UNCG/Grandover Collegiate this past October. Wu was all-Big Ten in 2016 and 2017, boasted the lowest stroke average in the conference in 2017, and was a second team All-American selection for 2017.
Even as Wu improved mentally, he never shied away listening to his coaches and making technical changes.
"There's no ego in him asking for feedback. … He really wants to learn and improve," said Inglis. "He shows up knowing what he needs to do to improve, owns his game and understands it."
Wu gave credit to the entire golf staff, mentioning the coaches, including director of golf and player development, Pat Goss, as the main reason he came to Northwestern in the first place.
Of Inglis, Wu said he was taken with his desire to focus a lot of his time developing him as a golfer. Wu said this was not necessarily the case at other schools he visited.
Though Wu still has some significant rounds to play as a Wildcat, the wheels are already in motion for him to pursue golf professionally.
He will fly from his last collegiate tournament of the year to British Columbia to begin qualifying for the Mackenzie Tour, the PGA's Canadian affiliate. A good showing there can propel him to a full summer schedule on the Tour, with good results there consequently earning him an invite to Web.com Tour qualifying.
The Web.com Tour sits one level below the PGA Tour, and qualifying for the Web.com circuit is a momentous step towards earning a PGA card. Inglis, who played professionally in Europe, believes Wu can cut it as a professional.
"In my mind, there's no doubt Dylan will play golf professionally. It's been his goal for such a long time. He wants it … he's going to make it happen."
As for the stroke record, Wu is cognizant of it but not focused on breaking it.
He knows stroke averages can be finicky, with a difficult course or tough conditions driving the mark up despite comparatively good play.
"It's something to look at and check but not be consumed by, because it'll be restricting and distracting," Wu said.
With the golf season divided into fall and spring slates, Wu and the Wildcats are coming off individual and team wins at the UNCG/Grandover Collegiate this past October. After the Big Ten Match Play in Palm Coast, Florida, last week, Northwestern is off to the Prestige at PGA WEST in Palm Springs, California.
Even with so much at stake for him both collegiately and professionally in the coming months, Wu took a moment to reflect fondly upon that final round at the Gifford before summing his Northwestern golf career to this point.
"My golf back then was good enough to win, so my growth as a person is what's impressive to look back at."
NUsports.com Correspondent
Although this is Dylan Wu's final season on Northwestern's men's golf team, his most vivid memory comes from the first chapter of his NU career.
As a rookie, Wu won the individual title at the Gifford Collegiate.
"I remember the last four of five holes really well," said Wu, describing how he and men's golf head coach David Inglis navigated the course on their way to victory that day.
It was an impressive and meaningful victory for Wu, who grew up in Oregon and was eyeing primarily Pac-12 schools before a January visit to Northwestern changed his mind.
That early win offered a glimpse at Wu's potential, but how did he become one of the best golfers in school history? As of this writing, he sits second in school history in stroke average, trailing only former world number one Luke Donald only by about half a stroke.
Both player and coach point to Wu's improved mental game as the catalyst.
"He's really fiery, and that's what makes him really good," said Inglis, acknowledging that Wu's ability to harness his emotions allowed him to make significant strides.
Wu agreed, saying that "a mistake on one hole would affect [his] next three or four holes. … I wasn't mentally strong enough to fight with what I had."
Wu points to the time between his sophomore and junior years as a period of significant improvement, noting that he took charge of his own mental growth. He did so knowing it would be his responsibility to do the same out on the course. The emotional edge stayed, but Wu's focus shifted to an "every stroke counts" mentality established by grinding through poor play, analyzing his game only after the tournament concluded, and not worrying about factors outside his control.
That mental maturation is what propelled Wu from a talented golfer to a golfer with legitimate professional aspirations.
Inglis says there was no need to change Wu's "Golf DNA" by making him less emotional. Once refined, that competitive fire turned Wu into someone who thrives in the big moment.
"Under pressure, he's excellent," said Inglis bluntly.
Once Wu shored up his mental game, the results and accolades piled up.
He won individual titles at the Redhawk Invitational during the 2016-17 season as well as the UNCG/Grandover Collegiate this past October. Wu was all-Big Ten in 2016 and 2017, boasted the lowest stroke average in the conference in 2017, and was a second team All-American selection for 2017.
Even as Wu improved mentally, he never shied away listening to his coaches and making technical changes.
"There's no ego in him asking for feedback. … He really wants to learn and improve," said Inglis. "He shows up knowing what he needs to do to improve, owns his game and understands it."
Wu gave credit to the entire golf staff, mentioning the coaches, including director of golf and player development, Pat Goss, as the main reason he came to Northwestern in the first place.
Of Inglis, Wu said he was taken with his desire to focus a lot of his time developing him as a golfer. Wu said this was not necessarily the case at other schools he visited.
Though Wu still has some significant rounds to play as a Wildcat, the wheels are already in motion for him to pursue golf professionally.
He will fly from his last collegiate tournament of the year to British Columbia to begin qualifying for the Mackenzie Tour, the PGA's Canadian affiliate. A good showing there can propel him to a full summer schedule on the Tour, with good results there consequently earning him an invite to Web.com Tour qualifying.
The Web.com Tour sits one level below the PGA Tour, and qualifying for the Web.com circuit is a momentous step towards earning a PGA card. Inglis, who played professionally in Europe, believes Wu can cut it as a professional.
"In my mind, there's no doubt Dylan will play golf professionally. It's been his goal for such a long time. He wants it … he's going to make it happen."
As for the stroke record, Wu is cognizant of it but not focused on breaking it.
He knows stroke averages can be finicky, with a difficult course or tough conditions driving the mark up despite comparatively good play.
"It's something to look at and check but not be consumed by, because it'll be restricting and distracting," Wu said.
With the golf season divided into fall and spring slates, Wu and the Wildcats are coming off individual and team wins at the UNCG/Grandover Collegiate this past October. After the Big Ten Match Play in Palm Coast, Florida, last week, Northwestern is off to the Prestige at PGA WEST in Palm Springs, California.
Even with so much at stake for him both collegiately and professionally in the coming months, Wu took a moment to reflect fondly upon that final round at the Gifford before summing his Northwestern golf career to this point.
"My golf back then was good enough to win, so my growth as a person is what's impressive to look back at."
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