Oklahoma State University Athletics
Pablo Martin Looking To Drive Pokes Toward NCAA Title
May 29, 2006 | Cowboy Golf
In just two short years at Oklahoma State that is exactly what Pablo Martin has done.
The awards are pouring in with such consistency that few people bat an eye anymore. Martin himself says that they are the farthest thing from his mind.
“All these awards, it's nice that they give you those but there's nothing really you can do about it. You cannot control that; you can only control what you do on the golf course. So the only thing that you have to do is go play golf and try to play as good as you can every tournament. Then they give you whatever awards they want to give you, if not it's fine.”
The calm demeanor Martin carries off the course has carried him to the nation's top golfing spot on it. Much of his “coolness” stems from a long, illustrious amateur career in Europe.
Martin says that even though golf is the same there are still some enormous changes that have to be made when adapting to the American college lifestyle. He has been fortunate to obtain the experience overseas necessary to adjust seamlessly.
“I've seen some people that were good but they may not have that experience and then they are going to struggle. It's more difficult for them to adapt to the first year of college and all that...It is always good to get experience and play everywhere.”
Everywhere is definitely where Martin has been. The Phil Mickelson Award, semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award and Big 12 Player of the Year are just a few of the honors this well-rounded Spaniard has attained this season.
Despite the success and fame since coming across the pond, Pablo remains hungry for more. His motivational philosophy is simple, never be satisfied.
“You just have to set some goals and try to play the best you can. If you are not winning every tournament then you should try to win every tournament. Once you win every tournament then you can say, ‘Okay, I have to win this tournament by 15 shots or whatever.' So you can always get motivated.”
The Cowboy golf squad is especially motivated this year coming off a disappointing 15th place finish in last year's NCAA tournament. The Pokes are currently ranked second nationally and determined to make a better showing at the NCAA Championship this year in Sunriver, Oregon this year. Martin was definitely distraught after last year's finish.
“I think the guys that played the tournament realized what we did wrong and we have another chance to do better. It's pretty sad too because we had a really nice season last year and we only played one tournament really bad. But it ended up being the nationals and it seems like it was a really bad season. It's a very very big tournament and I didn't know how important it was until I played in it.”
Martin knows there is a lot more pressure on him this year as an established golfer. He says his immediate family in Spain and his golfing family here in the United States have eased the pressure of leading such a storied golf program.
“I talk to them [family in Spain] very often. I talk to them every two or three days. The first year [in the U.S.] is a little more difficult because it's a new thing, new people and everything, but it wasn't difficult at all for me. Everyone was really nice from the first day I got here. They were just helping me all the time and this place [Karsten Creek] is awesome so there's nothing I can complain about. It feels like home, really.”
Martin has made it clear from day one that he will throw his heart and soul into everything he attempts to do here at Oklahoma State. His house may seem like a million miles away, and his family a vivid memory right now. But Martin is where he is supposed to be, doing what he was born to do. It's like they always say, home is where the heart is.
Martin and the rest of the Cowboys will begin their quest for the school's 10th national title on Wednesday at the Crosswater Golf Club.
