In his first two semesters at U. Texas, freshman Cody Gribble has learned a lot about the game of golf and how to handle himself professionally at events. Remarkably, it seems the only thing he hasn’t learned is how to be nervous.
Gribble boasts five top-five finishes in only nine events this season and claims the second-best average round score (72.32) over the course of the season, behind only sophomore Dylan Frittelli’s 71.6 18-hole average. Without missing a beat, Gribble has made a quick transition from one level of golf to the next. He has started this year right where he left off at Highland Park High School as a two-time Texas state champion.
“I am very confident in my ability, and I always have high expectations for myself, no matter what level I am playing at,” Gribble said. “Playing a lot over the summer as an amateur here in Austin and back home in Dallas helped me stay in the right mindset to play.”
A steady emphasis on his short game — practicing everything from wedges to putting — and tempo, a consistent timing pattern between woods and irons, has enabled Gribble to rise above the field on most occasions this season.
Despite his immediate achievements and stern demeanor, Gribble will still acknowledge a couple of his weaknesses. After long tournaments that bring high expectations, in addition to long days walking the courses, he often finds himself mentally fatigued. He has been known to perform best at times when the competition and course are the toughest and then proceed onto an easier tournament field and course with less motivation — and a less impressive scorecard afterward.
Case in point: Over spring break, the Horns participated in two consecutive tournaments in Las Vegas and Tucson, Ariz., respectively. Vegas was supposed to be the bigger challenge with the stiffer competition, and Gribble performed masterfully there. Just as a professional sports team may suffer a letdown in enthusiastic play after a big win, Gribble too found it hard to so quickly refocus onto an easier, less-pressured field in Tucson, and the results reflected that. Consequently, consistency and focus from round to round and tournament to tournament are qualities the star freshman seeks to attain.
Gribble will be the first one to talk about just how driven he is to have a successful golf career.
“It’s all a learning experience,” Gribble said. “I know that if I want to get back up on that medalist podium for the next event, I just have to take it hole-by-hole and keep a clear mind.”
This season, Gribble has led the No. 5 Longhorns in keeping that sharp focus necessary for success on the links. Even as a freshman, he has emerged as a leader for a team who has so far exceeded everybody’s expectations — except those of Texas head coach John Fields and his players.
“We have tremendous ability, and we know what we’re capable of,” Fields said.
With only two tournaments left in the season before the Big 12 and NCAA Regional and National Championships, Fields knows exactly what it will take to get the players focused to make a championship run.
“Each guy on the team is so different, and we have to talk to each player individually in order to enhance their abilities and get them to come together as a team,“ Fields said. “We’re all competitive and have the talent to win the national championship, but we have to get that sense of latitude on a continual basis if we want to reach our ultimate goal.”
As for what it would mean for his guys to win it all, Fields was unable to quantify exactly what it would do, not just for UT but also for the state of Texas.
“It would mean everything,” he said. “We’re the flagship University of the state, and there is a huge golf fan base out there that’s constantly looking to see how we’re doing. They’ve gone a long time without experiencing a national champion golf team, since 1972, and we’re hoping to bring that glory back this year.”
A goal that’s 38 years in the making? Consider it a challenge for Gribble and the Longhorns.