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Talking Rio 2016 with David Hearn

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / Getty

theScore’s sponsored Web.Com Tour golfer, Mackenzie Hughes, sat down with fellow Canadian and PGA professional David Hearn to discuss his selection to the Canadian Olympic Team and his overall season thus far.

Mac Hughes: First off, congrats on the Canadian Olympic Team nod. Gearing up for Rio and the Olympics, what do you most look forward to in Rio?

David Hearn: Thanks, Mac. I'm really just looking forward to the entire experience. Walking in the opening ceremonies, representing Canada, will be an incredible experience. That's something I am very excited to have the opportunity to do. I have represented Canada a few times before, and the sense of pride that goes along with that has always been special. Competing in the Olympics is only going to be that much more special. I know Graham (DeLaet) is going to make it down for the opening ceremonies as well and we are going to walk together. It will be pretty cool.

Something I will remember for a very long time.

MH: Are you planning to watch any other events while in Rio?

DH: Yes, definitely. I'm going to soak it all in and watch a bunch of different events. I have a couple off-days before we start our practice rounds, so I'm going to get out and watch a few events for sure. The events that I am most interested in watching are some of the events we wouldn't regularly see. I'm interested in seeing swimming and diving and maybe even some table tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball - those events that we don't spend much time around.

I also want to make it to a bunch of events where the athletes medal that day. I know that medals are going to be handed out for us once we finish competition on Sunday, but it will be inspiring to see athletes in other disciplines get up on that podium. The golf is certainly going to be a big highlight of my season, but we have a lot of big events to look forward to, and for most of these athletes at the games, this is their one moment to shine.

To watch an athlete preform and rise up to that level in that exact moment will be pretty neat to watch and inspiring for me for sure.

MH: You are playing a golf course that not many people know anything about. How do you prepare for a course that you haven't seen and what do you know about the course at this point?

DH: It's obviously unique that nobody in the field has seen or played the golf course. It provides a truly level playing field entering the competition. There are a few drone flyover videos of the golf course available, so I've watched some of those videos. I'm trying to get a little more familiar before we get down there. I'm excited to start preparation and see the course firsthand and be as prepared as possible. We are all going to be reading our putts for the first time and we will be learning it all at the same time so it will be good for the competition.

MH: Leading up to Rio, how do you feel about your game? Do you feel like you're in a good spot to contend for a medal?

DH: I feel really good about my game. I didn't have my best performance at the RBC Canadian Open this year, but overall and especially over the last three months my game has been really steady. I've had a lot of good finishes and put together a real nice foundation. I'm playing well tee-to-green and my putting has been really solid. I just have'’t had some of those "breakout" rounds where you kind of get the golf course for a really low one.

I feel like I'm on the edge of doing some really good things. I've taken a little bit of a breather before the games, knowing that I have a big schedule coming up. So I'm going to start ramping up practice and put in some more repetition as the games get closer. I have all the confidence in the world that I'll be ready to play my best golf when the gun goes off.

MH: Are you doing most of your practice right now at Brantford Golf & Country Club while you're home?

DH: Yes, I've been at home in Brantford (Ontario). I've had a few corporate commitments but nothing too strenuous. I've been able to practice around that as well as these last couple days before I head down to Rio. I feel good where I'm at and I have a really good idea of what I need to work on and I'll definitely be ready.

MH: Just last week I saw you completed another successful David Hearn Foundation Charity Classic at your home course benefiting the Alzheimer Society of Canada. How has this disease affected you and your family and how can readers contribute to the cause?

DH: Yes, absolutely. It was a really successful day at the David Hearn Foundation Charity Classic. I've hosted the event for a number of years now. Seeing as it was the first year that my foundation was hosting the event, it was nice to bring it back to Brantford Golf and Country Club. It was a huge success. We raised close to $150,000 to support Alzheimer Society of Canada both nationally and locally. It's so great to see the funds going back to my community as well as the national society.

When I had the opportunity to start a foundation and give something back in this way it was a pretty natural fit for me. I've had a number of family members, including my grandmother and great grandmother, who fought the disease. I've seen firsthand what families go through and how challenging it can be and how important it is to care for those affected. We have several avenues available for anyone who wants to help out or get behind what we are doing. We have a David Hearn Foundation wine label we are selling right now at Rockway Vineyards where proceeds benefit the foundation. Those that want to donate directly to the foundation can do so at davidhearn.ca or you can purchase the foundation wine at rockway.net. We are also selling David Hearn Foundation hats through my website with proceeds going directly to the foundation. The exciting thing about the foundation is that it's allowed us to get creative in helping to gain awareness and promote the culture change that's needed for us to do what we can to fight Alzheimer's disease.

MH: You must have been a pretty big supporter of the ALS ice bucket challenge?

DH: (Laughs) For sure - that was an incredibly successful campaign; I don't think I got officially challenged so I never had to do it. I know that campaign significantly contributed to the recent breakthrough in ALS research, so these types of campaign definitely make a real difference. I know our efforts are doing the same for Alzheimer's research and awareness.

MH: Post Rio, give us an idea of what your schedule looks like.

DH: After Rio it will be three weeks being away from the PGA Tour, so it will be time for me to get back to work out there. I'll play the Wyndham Championship after Rio, so that will get me back on track heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Hopefully I can put together a nice playoff run and play deep into the playoffs. It's always been a goal of mine to be at the Tour Championship at the end of the year and be rewarded for a good season. I've got a little bit of work to do but hopefully after a good Olympic campaign, I'll be feeling good, positive, and confident and ready to make a good run in the playoffs.

MH: The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up Auston Matthews with the first pick in the draft. How do you think our boys are going to fare this year?

DH: We have a lot of very good prospects, there's no doubt about it. It's just a matter of time to see how these prospects pan out. The Leafs are in good hands right now with the front office, so they've made some good moves lately. It looks like they are getting very close to putting a high-quality product on the ice. I think despite the fact we finished last and won the first overall pick, we can definitely be optimistic right now. (Laughs) That's my Leafs fan side talking right there. It will be hard to go further down, although we could talk to Edmonton about that (laughs).

MH: I really appreciate you doing this; I wish you all the best in Rio and in the upcoming FedEx Cup Playoffs. I hope you get that playoff beard rocking and I'll be rooting for you.

DH: Yeah man, thanks. I hope to grow it long this year. Looks like you are starting to play some really nice golf on the Web.com Tour, so keep it up. We are always following what you guys are doing. Keep up the good work; I know you are real close, too. I saw you had that top 10 a couple weeks ago so I'm sure you're feeling good out there, so keep it going.

MH: Yes, thanks. I'm trending in the right direction for sure, so hopefully I'll see you in the big leagues soon.

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