Interview with Ryan Celano, Corales Puntacana Championship Monday Qualifier

I had it in my head before I started the day that I had to get to 7-under or I was going to end up in a playoff. On 17, I’m like, we’ve got to get two more at least. I hit a 9 iron to like 8 inches on 17. It was like, thank god I don’t have to grind on this one. On 18, I fanned it a little bit but hit a great 3-wood to pin-high-right. I really wanted to get that one up-and-down and make a birdie. Fortunately, I chipped it to like 8 inches. 

MB: How did you feel coming in and trying to close out the round?

RC: I actually felt pretty good and calm. I don’t know if it’s because I’m starting to believe in myself more and gaining more confidence. I’m driving the ball better and that’s been my Achilles heel the past couple years. When you’re getting the ball in play it makes the game easier. When you know what you have to do out there and it’s all or nothing, sometimes that makes it easier. 

MB: I know you caddied often in the past. Who have you looped for and do you still caddie? 

RC: I caddied for T.J. Vogel for like a year and a half in 2019 out of college. He needed a caddie and I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. I wasn’t really playing any good at the time so I was like, “I’ll go with you.” So I went out with him for a year and a half through Covid and then we parted ways because I wanted to play again. So I raised some money and started playing. I’ve had bad status on Latin America the last couple seasons, so I haven’t gotten any starts. I’ve just been doing Minor Leagues, West Florida (Tour), and state opens to get some reps. 

MB: Did you caddie for Vogel during his historic Monday Q run?

RC: I caddied for him in one of them. He had made like 4 in a row. But he missed that one...of course. T.J. has been my best friend since I was 3. He was the reason I got into golf and went to (University of) Florida, so I’ve been following in his footsteps a bit. I was actually the best man at his wedding.

MB: Where did you grow up?

RC: I grew up in Naples. My Dad was at Twin Eagles back in the day and then he’s been teaching at Bay Colony for the last 10 years, so that’s where I practice. I still caddie on Fridays and Saturdays at Calusa Pines to make some money.

MB: Did T.J. give you any advice this week?

RC: Yeah, he’s given me a bunch: stick to what got me here and you don’t have to do anything crazy. Try not to practice too much. He knows how excited I get. Take it easy, get your practice in, but don’t overdo it. Tyson (Alexander) was saying the same thing. 

This week, I at least had a week to get my travel in order and my caddie in order. One of my teammates from UF plays in Canada and Latin America and is caddying. He calms me down and keeps me loose. 

MB: Your father is a teaching professional, is that right?

He’s the director of golf at The International in Bolton, Mass. 

MB: I heard your dad and Greg Norman are good friends. Is it true that your dad was Norman’s best man in his wedding?

No, Norman was the best man at my Dad and Mom’s wedding. Dad was the pro at Grand Cypress back in the day and he was really close with Payne Stewart, and Greg and Nick Price were Dad’s closest friends. Greg and Dad kind of lost touch over the years, but off and on, reconnected. 

But Dad put me around a lot of amazing people growing up. He was at four or five Nicklaus courses, so we’ve gotten to know them over the years. Jack’s been extremely helpful.

I grew up around Andy Beane a lot actually. He would chip and putt with me and even throughout college he'd text me and be like, “hey man, what are you doing?” And I’d be like, “in class.” He’s like, “well we’re going to the range.” And I’m like, “well, I don’t think I can do that.”

There were a lot of people growing up that made an impact in my life. Dad put me in a position to succeed and I didn’t play very good in college and the last couple years in high school, but I’ve been slowly building confidence back up. I’m just trying to get a little better each day rather than putting pressure on myself with expectations and all that.

MB: Did you get to play with Norman growing up?

No, I played once with Nick Price and then played with Brett Quigley a lot growing up. George McNeill has been great this week. I actually caddied for him at Calusa Pines two weeks before I got through (the Monday Q).

MB: Did you play a practice round today?

RC: I played with George McNeill and Rico Hoey. George has taken me under his wing this week along with some others: Tyson and Billy Ho. They’ve been showing me the ropes again. I know what to do having caddied for for T.J. – and Dudley Hart for four weeks – and Brett Quigley for a week. If I’m caddying I know what to do but it’s fun being inside the ropes and playing this time.

MB: What is the strategy this week? What is going to be key for you?

RC: I think handling emotions and expectations. It’s pretty wide, so that part is nice. It’s very long. It’ll be interesting to see how many of the tees they move up and George was helpful with that. There’s a lot of shelves so you have to be pretty precise with your irons and hit it solid in the wind. I think it’s just trying to keep it as simple as possible. 

I’ve got nothing to lose so just go for it.