Meet Joe Long / Mizuno Next Generation

One of Mizuno’s brightest ‘Next Generation’, Joe Long (25) is a self-confessed ‘late developer’. We caught up with the 2020 British Amateur Champion at the Tour Studio – whilst being fitted for the new ST-Z 230 driver. Joe currently plays on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, looking to progress to the DP World Tour.

I started playing when i was about 11 – but was never that good really. Which I kind of like, because I never had extra pressure on me or had to live up to this big expectation. I just put some work in and started to improve. I stayed under the radar.  I’ve used Mizuno for probably about eight years. My first Mizuno’s were the MP-5s. I loved them.

When I did play in the majors, because of COVID I hadn’t competed anywhere near enough. When I teed up in the Masters, it was probably the first time I’d competed in five months. But i’ve learned that you never go iinto an event feeling perfect.

Your game’s never gonna be where you want it to be going into events, but you just got to learn how to get around. How to score.

My goals are ultimately make it from the Challenge Tour onto to DP Tour. There’s some good opportunities on the Sunshine Tour with the co-sanction events where you can earn points to get onto the Challenge Tour onto the DP tour. I’ll probably play some Clutch. You’ve got to be realistic but not put too much pressure on it.

You know, I think that’s the biggest thing is kind of accept where you are and keep focusing on short-term, process goals. Stay in the moment and try not to get ahead of yourself. Not worry about where you’re going to be in a year. Don’t look too far ahead because it can it can affect you in some way for sure.

Joe Long is planning his route from the Sunshine Tour to the DP World Tour.