Theo Humphrey’s passion for golf started when he was a wee lad.
By Melanie Cane
Theo Humphrey’s passion for golf started when he was a wee lad. According to his father, Tom, Theo was fascinated watching pro golf on television and loved to watch his parents at the driving range. By the time Theo hit his first golf ball, at age 2½, “he already knew how to hold the club and hit the ball straight and far,” said his proud dad. After that first shot, Theo’s mother, Cynthia, took him to the driving range almost every day. She started taking him to the course when he was 5.
By the time Humphrey was 6, he was playing full rounds, and at age 7, he broke 100. Humphrey played his first tournament, The Met-PGA for Juniors Mosholu Parkway Tournament, at age 8. The following year, he represented the state of Connecticut (he is from Greenwich) in The US Kids World Championship Tournament and came in fourth.
Now one of the best junior golfers in the country, Humphrey’s father reminds him that he broke almost every window in their house, as well as the windshield of the neighbor’s car, practice-hitting in his yard.
Humphrey, a junior and an A student at Rye Country Day School, has been ranked between 15 and 25 in the American Junior Golf Association Polo Rankings for the past three years. The tournament golfer took his first formal lesson at age 15 when he started working with Todd Anderson at Sea Island Resort in Georgia. Anderson, who also coaches Brandt Snedeker, the winner of this year’s FedEx Cup, describes Humphrey as having an intellect and understanding of golf way beyond his years. “Theo is a very good student and very committed. He studies golf and wants to see results.” Anderson continued, “He has the physical ability, tenacity, and determination to become a great golfer.”
To date, Humphrey has played in over 150 tournaments. His biggest win came last summer in The Junior All Star Penn State Tournament. In October, he committed to Vanderbilt University, a Division I School, where he has a golf scholarship. Despite receiving offers from many universities, Humphrey chose Vanderbilt because, “it’s a good fit, has tremendous academics, and I think we’ll have a shot at winning the NCAA.”
Humphrey, who is in his second year as a co-Captain, has been on the Rye Country Day team since he was a freshman. So far, he has lost only one match.
Wildcats Coach Steve Konopka describes Humphrey as an excellent leader. “All of his teammates look up to him and respect him. He is a tireless worker, always looking to improve his game. His work ethic rubs off on the other boys. He’s a great competitor and just a good kid. It is a pleasure to coach him.”
When asked about Humphrey’s strengths and weaknesses, Konopka replied, “He has no weaknesses. He has all the physical attributes and an excellent mind for the game. He’s extremely long off the tee and incredibly accurate with his iron play. His short game is absolutely fantastic.”
Humphrey’s love of the game is uncontested. “Golf is so much fun and every time I play it’s a new challenge. Some days it comes easily and everything is perfect, but other days when I do not have my best stuff it’s a challenge to shoot a respectable score. I love that challenge of trying to do my best when I’m not at the top of my game.” He added, “I also love all the places it has brought me and all the amazing experiences I’ve had. My best experience was getting to play Augusta this spring three weeks before the Masters.”
Will we see Theo Humphrey on the PGA Tour sometime soon? Par for the course, we’d say.
