McCulloch on having Hayes as a partner in the Pro-Am, his admiration of Tommy Fleetwood's game, and making his first professional start this week
Ashton McCullough, fresh off a historic 59 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, enters professional golf with a mix of excitement and humility, reflecting on his journey from Kingston goalie to pro. He reveals that his first pro debut in the Pro-Am was shaped by an unexpected mentorship with Tommy Fleetwood—whose swing he studies religiously—while also confronting the mental grind of tournament golf. McCullough dismantles the myth of effortless pro dominance, emphasizing that tour life is a relentless full-day grind of chipping, putting, and course management, not just long drives. He draws a direct line between his hockey goaltending roots and his ability to thrive under pressure, calling it '90% mental'—a mindset that fuels his confidence in high-stakes moments. Despite the glamour, he remains grounded, admitting he avoids watching amateur putts to stay focused and that tournament play is fundamentally different from practice rounds due to pin placement, pressure, and stakes. His love for the Bills and his deep connection to Michigan State’s athletic culture underscore a well-rounded identity beyond the fairway.
Tournament golf is 90% mental—pressure, focus, and mental resilience separate pros from amateurs.
McCullough’s 59 at Cataraqui was a career milestone, but he’s already focused on the next challenge: proving himself in pro competition.
He avoids watching amateur putts to stay mentally unswayed, relying only on his own reads and confidence.
Tommy Fleetwood’s swing is a mental blueprint for McCullough—something he studies when struggling.
The Pro-Am isn’t just a warm-up; it’s a proving ground where pairing with elite players like Fleetwood or Hayes builds confidence and exposure.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
McCullough’s Pro Debut: First Steps as a Professional
“It was super cool. Obviously, to start my pro debut here in Canada is a great opportunity and I'm excited.”
The Reality of Tour Life: A Full-Day Grind
“It's not like a lot of other sports where it's not as physically demanding. It's hard to be on the hockey rink for six hours a day. Sure, yeah. You can easily spend that chipping and putting and being on the range.”
The 59 and the Pressure of Tournament Play
“It's just everything is on a bigger stage. Because I lived in South Florida a lot, and there was a bunch of guys there. Every day I was like, there's no way that this tournament that these guys are going through, they're all not winning it because it was 65 every day.”
Tommy Fleetwood: A Swing to Study and a Peer to Respect
McCullough shares his deep admiration for Tommy Fleetwood, whose swing he uses as a mental reference point during tough rounds.
Mental Game: From Goaltender to Pro Golfer
McCullough draws a direct line between his hockey goaltending career and his ability to handle pressure, calling it '90% mental'.
“It's just everything is on a bigger stage. Because I lived in South Florida a lot, and there was a bunch of guys there. Every day I was like, there's no way that this tournament that these guys are going through, they're all not winning it because it was 65 every day.”
“Yeah, I mean, it's not like a lot of other sports where it's not as physically demanding. It's hard to be on the hockey rink for six hours a day. Sure, yeah. You can easily spend that chipping and putting and being on the range.”
“I was horrendous on the front. Really? Took your wow. Literally the worst player out here based on a cap, like relative to a cap.”
Host
Guest
Ashton McCullough
person
Tommy Fleetwood
person
Michigan State
other
RBC Canadian Open
other
Buffalo Bills
other
Cataraqui Golf and Country Club
place
Nick Taylor
person
Josh Allen
person
TPC Toronto
place
Pinehurst Number Two
place
OverDrive - June 10, 2026 - Hour 1 - Ashton McCulloch
47m • 6/10/2026
OverDrive - June 3, 2026 - Hour 1 - Jesse Marsch
47m • 6/3/2026
OverDrive - June 3, 2026 - Hour 2 - Ray Ferraro/Laurence Applebaum
46m • 6/3/2026
OverDrive - June 5, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson/Jack Armstrong
47m • 6/5/2026
OverDrive - June 8, 2026 - Hour 2 - Jason Strudwick
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Anthopoulos on the Braves' positive season, managing the team and the aspects of building a team
12m • 6/1/2026
OverDrive - June 1, 2026 - Hour 1 - Alex Anthopoulos
47m • 6/1/2026
Williams on the Hurricanes advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, the team's success and playing the Golden Knights
11m • 6/1/2026
OverDrive - June 1, 2026 - Hour 2 - Justin Williams
46m • 6/1/2026
Staal on representing the Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup and the matchup for Carolina
12m • 6/2/2026
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