Note: This is the eighth in a series of Q&As with some of Illini men's golf's most accomplished alumni who have gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for future installments in the series. Previous Pro Illini Q&As are available here: Scott Langley, Nick Hardy, Charlie Danielson, Dylan Meyer, Luke Guthrie, and D.A. Points, and Brian Campbell.
The Pieters File:
Thomas Pieters left an indelible mark on the men's golf program during his career with the Fighting Illini from 2010-11 though 2012-13. The Nijlen, Belgium, native not only helping lead Illinois through a period of sustained team success with three Big Ten Championships (2011, 2012, and 2013), and an NCAA runner-up team finish in 2013, but also collected several individual accolades, most notably his 2012 NCAA Championship, the second in program history.
Pieters' individual NCAA title was one of three collegiate tournament victories; he also won the 2011 Jack Nicklaus Invitational, and claimed the 2013 Big Ten Championship which cemented his standing as the conference's Player of the Year.
He finished his collegiate career as a two-time All-Big Ten performer, a two-time All-Midwest Region selection, and was honored as a first-team All-American in 2012 and an honorable mention All-American in 2013.
Pieters recently took time out to reflect on his time at Illinois, and how the Illini golf program helped to prepare him for his professional career.
Q&A:
Why did you choose to come to the University of Illinois?
The first time I set foot on campus, I really felt the family vibe and Coach Small was probably the biggest reason I came to Illinois. A coach who could show you how it's done and kick your butt is something very rare.
What is your fondest memory from your time at Illinois?
The end of my last season when we knew we had a good chance to go all the way in National Championship and we almost did, finishing second to Alabama. That's something I'm still very proud of.
How do you feel the Illinois golf program prepared you for life after college both on and off the golf course?
It made me be a lot more disciplined as an athlete, and it made me realize I needed to work extremely hard to accomplish my goal. Coach always kept telling us how difficult it was to get to where all his golfers wanted to go. To be reminded of that from time-to-time kept us grounded.
What is one piece of advice you would give a current team member?
Buy in to what Coach Small says, and preferably from the first week you get on campus. He's one of, if not the only, guy who's played on a very high level and still does as a coach. He knows exactly what we go through, and he knows what it takes to get where we want to go.
What advice would you give a junior golfer who wants to play in college?
I would tell them to work extremely hard on their short game because that's what separated the good players from the brilliant players, even in college. Always take care of your grades as well, because you never know what life throws at you, and getting a degree while playing college golf is super important as well.
What would you say to someone who says "the weather" is too harsh in winter to improve at Illinois?
I would tell them they are soft. The weather makes you a better all-around player and makes you tough. So, if an incoming players moans about the weather I don't think he'll survive very long under Coach Small.
How would you describe Head Coach Mike Small in one sentence?
A great coach who never has a problem with telling the truth, and with a heart of gold.
How big of a factor was Coach Small in your decision to attend Illinois?
Massive. He was the only coach to talk to my parents before he talked to me. I thought, that's what I wanted; a coach who involves my whole family! In the end I was going to move across the world, live and work with Coach Small, and I had the feeling he wanted to create the same family vibe I had at home. That's why he and I clicked really quickly, and still are great friends to this day.
Can you talk about the transition from college golf to professional golf?
It was something I was quite lucky with, I think. I was playing well in my last semester at Illinois, and I kept that going through the summer. I know Coach told me I was good enough to play on any tour and that's something I kept in the back of my mind for sure. I did feel lonely at the start because you are on your own, where before Coach was always at your side for every move you made, so that's something I would suggest to every player turning pro: surround yourself with a good team from the start.
What do you need to do to take your game to the next level?
I need to keep working on my short game; it's a never-ending journey. I feel like my ball striking is plenty good enough, but my putting hasn't been performing as good as a couple years ago. It's something I've been working on, and hopefully when we resume playing I can prove again that I'm a good putter.
How similar is your practice now compared to the way you practiced when you were here at Illinois?
It's still very similar. I still do Coach Small drills all the time. This is because he always made us do performance-based drills.
What are your greatest strengths?
My iron play has always been my strongest asset, I think.
What are your goals for 2020?
I would like to get my PGA tour card back, but at this point I would just like to play competitive golf again; that would be amazing!
