Doc Redman ready to juggle Clemson career with Masters, other majors

Doc Redman is back in Clemson after winning the U.S. Amateur Championship over the weekend and is already noticing a difference from before he went to California for the tournament.

“It’s been overwhelming, really,” Redman said of the reception he has received since arriving back in South Carolina. “Everyone’s been so happy for me and supportive of me, especially here at Clemson. It’s been incredible.”

It also means Redman will have an opportunity to play in the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open in 2018.

The Raleigh native will play in the Walker Cup next month – which features the top American amateurs matching up against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland – before returning to Clemson to compete for the Tigers in the fall.

Redman’s Masters invitation should arrive in December. He played Augusta National last season with the Tigers, but expects an entirely different experience when he plays in the major tournament.

“I’ve never been to the actual Masters, so getting to play there for the first time will be incredible,” Redman sad.

Tigers golf coach Larry Penley, who has experience guiding future pro players, is looking forward to helping Redman through the process.

“We’re going to leave him alone until after the Walker Cup. The Walker Cup is at the Los Angeles Country Club and he will have the honor of representing our country. It’ll be the time of his life,” Penley said. “After the Walker Cup, it’ll settle down until December when he gets his Masters invite. Then his world will be turned upside down a little bit. Once he gets the invitation he’ll be able to go to Augusta and practice and play any time he wants to. That’s going to be a hard temptation. He’s going to want to go every day.”

Penley is confident Redman will have no problem juggling playing in major championships and doing what he needs to as a member of Clemson’s golf team.

“He puts a lot of stock in our team. He ended up being our leader last year as a true freshman. He’s that team conscious,” Penley said. “He’s about to broaden his golf horizons in a lot of different directions. We’re going to be here for him and we’re going to support whatever he wants to do.”

Redman is looking forward to enjoying the perks that come with winning the U.S. Amateur, but said he remains committed to helping Clemson.

“I’ve just got to find a way to be able to balance those things,” he said. “I want to do the best I can for the team and for the tournaments that I get in.”

The Tigers have a long history of producing pro golfers, including Sam Saunders and Kyle Stanley, who both left Clemson early to begin their pro careers.

Redman said he isn’t thinking about that – at this point.

“I’ve just been thinking ahead to this year,” he said.

When the time comes for Redman to make a decision on turning pro, Penley said he will help him any way he can.

“We’ve had guys leave, and he might be one of those other guys, I don’t know,” Penley said. “But if he’s ready, we’ll hug him and send him on his way. That’s all we can do.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Doc Redman ready to juggle Clemson career with Masters, other majors."