In Part Two of our extended conversation with John E Morgan, we pick up one of golf's most extraordinary career trajectories. Within months of turning professional, Morgan wins on the Challenge Tour, earns his European Tour card and then heads to America, where — inspired by watching Tiger Woods at close quarters — he emerges from PGA Tour Q School with a second Tour card. Suddenly the docker's son from Bristol is sharing ranges with Ernie Els and meeting his childhood heroes, while still sufficiently starstruck to sprint across a golf course for Adam Sandler's autograph.
We hear about life in America, electric-blue hair, meeting Seve Ballesteros and the loneliness behind Morgan's relentlessly exuberant exterior. Then comes the extraordinary final round of the 2004 John Deere Classic: a back-nine charge, increasingly wild fist pumps and a 30-foot birdie putt at the last to force a playoff that could have changed his life. Morgan reflects candidly on what victory might have meant — and whether his personality could actually have coped with everything that would have followed.
But just a week later Morgan suffered a serious seizure on a plane, and epilepsy became an increasingly destructive presence in his career. He tells us why he eventually had to walk away from professional golf, how broadcasting gave him another way into the game he loves, and why, despite everything he achieved, he remains convinced there was a Ryder Cup player inside him. It's a story of talent and what-ifs, but also enormous gratitude: as Morgan puts it, “At least I had a piece of the pie.”
Key quotes
“I definitely felt there was a Ryder Cup in me.”
“I was more starstruck than I was intimidated.”
“Whatever cloud I was on, I was on it and I felt like Monkey Magic.”
“It’s not just about me, it’s about everyone else.”
“At least I had a piece of the pie. At least I tasted it.”
“Do I think I'd be alive to tell this tale if that putt would have gone in? That's the truth.”
Chapters
00:00 — Coming Up: The John E Morgan Story Continues
01:12 — Turning pro and tearing up the EuroPro Tour
04:01 — Bowood: The tournament that changed everything
06:37 — The 40-footer that became “absolute fruit bat”
09:29 — From Challenge Tour winner to European Tour Player
11:04 — Taking a wild shot at PGA Tour Q School
11:50 — A seizure with four holes to play
13:20 — Watching Tiger and finding his swing
17:44 — Two tour cards in eight extraordinary months
20:42 — Hawaii, the PGA Tour and chasing Adam Sandler
22:28 — Starstruck but never intimidated
24:16 — Meeting Seve Ballesteros
26:13 — Why John dyed his hair electric blue
28:15 — Money, Miami and loneliness in America
29:42 — The 2004 John Deere Classic
31:57 — Going mental on the back nine
33:25 — Fist pumps and a clutch 30-footer at 18
35:11 — The playoff that could have changed everything
39:33 — “Would I be alive if that putt had gone in?”
41:03 — When epilepsy took control
45:22 — Finding a second life in broadcasting
46:00 — What's been lost from modern pro golf?
47:55 — The happiest days of his golfing life
49:19 — “I had a Ryder Cup in me”
50:48 — No regrets, gratitude and treating people well
Links
John E Morgan on Instagram
RNGC, Dan Davies' backyard golf course
Dan Davies on Substack
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