Scott Langley (’07)-PGA Tour golfer

Q: What was the South golf team like back then? Did it give you the desire to play golf professionally? 

A: We were a very good team locally but never quite played as well as we hoped at the State tournament. My time with the team definitely played a part in my continued growth towards professional golf.

Q: Is there any specific person from Parkway South who helped shape you into becoming such a driven pro golfer? 

A: My coach, Mark Wade, was a big influence on who I became as a golfer and person. He always emphasized playing with the “never say die” mentality.

Q: Did you play any other sports at South, or did most of your life revolve around golf? 

A: I tried out for freshman basketball but unfortunately (or maybe, fortunately) was cut in the first round!

Q: Did you have a pro golfer who you looked up to as your role model growing up? 

A: Tiger Woods has been my golf hero pretty much my whole life. He is a big reason that I wanted to pursue professional golf in the first place.

Q: What was it like playing division one golf at Illinois, as well as winning the NCAA Championship? 

A: It was awesome playing golf at Illinois, and winning the NCAA championship was definitely a high point in my career. I really enjoyed being a student-athlete at a big school like that and made some of my best friends to this day during my time there.

Q: What other pro golfers or former pro golfers have you met that make even you feel starstruck? 

A: I’ve met Tiger and we’ve shared a few meals at tournaments. At first, I was definitely very star stuck but he has become much more approachable in recent years for other players.

Q: Most people look at being a professional athlete as the perfect life but what struggles/obstacles do you personally experience in your line of work that people don’t realize? 

A: Most people don’t realize the grind necessary to be successful. It’s a 24 hr commitment to really succeed on tour. Everything from nutrition, sleep, fitness, practice, competing, recovery, and you make a bunch of little sacrifices that no one sees on a daily basis to focus your world on being successful on the golf course. It’s a full time “job.”

Q: What would be your advice to the students of Parkway South who aspire to make their dreams a reality just as you have? 

A: You can accomplish a lot with hard work, good direction, and good habits. I was blessed in some golf-specific ways but I was never the most athletic guy on the golf course so I have to make up the difference through hard and smart work combined.

Q: What are your goals for the future for golfing and your family? Do you think your child will want to follow in your footsteps? 

A: I want to get back out on the PGA tour and win tournaments. And I hope that my daughter chooses to play the game one day because it is a great sport and I would love to share it with her.

Q: How hard is it to juggle being a pro golfer, father and husband?

A: Time management is challenging sometimes but its something we’ve become very used to. FaceTime has been a very important invention for us!

Q: What is your favorite course to play on? 

A: Cypress Point Club

Q: Do you miss living in Missouri, and being around a community you knew for so long? 

A: I do miss it. I have a lot of friends and family in St. Louis and I love coming back. My schedule is pretty demanding but I try to come back and visit whenever I can.

Q: What is something that was key to your success when being a college athlete? 

A: My teammates were very important to my success in college because we pushed each other every day to be better and succeed. My coach really helped me improve my game as well as guide me through the balance of a demanding major alongside all of my golf desires.

Q: Do you have anything else to add 🙂 

A: Go Patriots!