At 26 years of age, Aman Gupta is breaking through the scene in the Korn Ferry Tour at the moment. He only received his card recently, but he has already had a couple of good finishes in the past. In 2022, he made notable progress by making cuts in multiple events, including finishes within the top 50. We can say that he is slowly rising up the ranks as he aims to get his PGA Tour credentials in the near future.
However, he already has something in common with some of the biggest names on the Tour. No, we’re not talking about his Palm Beach Gardens residence. Although, he might have come across some top players visiting the SoFi Center for TGL recently. The real connection he has with the biggest pros is that he has studied in the same University as some of them. And it’s no other than the prestigious Oklahoma State University.
Gupta recently joined Andrew Whitelaw of EssentiallySports for an exclusive interview. During the interview, Whitelaw asked the Korn Ferry Tour player, “What was it like going to that University? I think Rickie Fowler, Viktor Hovland, countless big names have been there. What was the experience like?”
Responding to the EssentiallySports reporter in an exclusive interview, Gupta said, “It was great. The alumni would come back a fair amount. We have our Pro-Am every year. That’s like our fund-raising event that pretty much most of the pros come back every year and play.”
He added, “I’ve played some golf with them and picked their brain a bit.” The young pro shared how he has had the opportunity to get guidance from Fowler and Hovland. It also highlights the generosity of the two PGA Tour pros, even as they navigate challenging stretches in their own careers.
Continuing the conversation in the EssentiallySports exclusive interview, Gupta added, “It’s a pretty cool fraternity in a sense that no matter what level you’re playing at, you know guys out there, and when you need help or any advice or anything like that, they’re always around.” The open channel of communication between pros and upcoming talents would definitely ease and fast-track the journey of young golfers early in their careers.
Gupta went on to share how, even after turning pro, he can always look to players like Fowler and Hovland for advice or guidance. He also mentioned that some veterans, like Bob Tway or Willie Wood, still make an effort to come around. They try to help the young golfers improve their game.
Interestingly, Oklahoma State University has produced some great players over the years. And we can assume most of them have mentored young pros like Aman Gupta in the past. Let’s take a look at other alumni from the university.
Rickie Fowler, Viktor Hovland, and other great golfers from Oklahoma State University
Apart from Rickie Fowler and Viktor Hovland, there are quite a few golfers who have also completed their graduation from Oklahoma State University. The list includes PGA Tour pros like Austin Eckroat, Kristoffer Ventura, Hunter Mahan, and others. Some LPGA Tour stars like Maja Stark, Pernilla Lindberg, and Val Skinner have also graduated from there.
Interestingly, a number of LIV Golf players have also pursued their education at Oklahoma State University. The likes of LIV Golf Player of the Year 2022, Talor Gooch, Charles Howell III, and Peter Uihlein were also a part of the university. Looking at all the players mentioned above, young golfers like Aman Gupta definitely have a lot of great golfers to seek guidance from.
What are your thoughts on the great culture of Rickie Fowler & Viktor Hovland’s university? Let us know in the comments section.
The post Exclusive: Amid Career Slumps, Rickie Fowler, Viktor Hovland Earn Praises for Helping Oklahoma Pro During Struggling Days appeared first on EssentiallySports.
