I had an incredible experience participating as a media correspondent for the 2025 FedEx Cup through the East Lake Foundation. To begin my morning, I was able to sit in on the press conferences of Harris English and Scottie Scheffler in the media center. Directly after the players’ press conferences, I went to The Georgian to watch PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and new CEO of the PGA TOUR, Brian Rolapp, address the press and discuss the current state of the PGA TOUR, as well as where it is going in the future. Finally, to end my morning, I sat in on a segment between Atlanta News First reporter, Josh Skinner, and East Lake Foundation’s Director of Outreach and Engagement, Jennifer McCrary. Throughout my time in the media center and at the FedEx Cup I had the chance to meet and speak with many leaders in the golf industry: Jay Monahan, Alex Urban, Chuck Palmer, and Chris Reimer. 

Sitting in on the press conferences today has been an eye opening experience. From the way the reporters asked questions to the way that the people being interviewed conducted themselves and responded, I learned many valuable lessons in the realm of media, but I also learned lessons that I can apply to everyday interactions in my life. Through the media lens, I learned that it’s important to be respectful and mature on both the asking and receiving ends of questions. I was fortunate enough to ask Scottie Scheffler a question about advice he would give to the Drew Charter School golf team as we compete for a state championship this year, and I received an invaluable response. As a dual-sport athlete, his response resonated with me. “I would say when I step up on the first tee, the thing I focus on most is my preparation. When it comes to tournament golf, you always want to win tournaments, but what it comes down to is trying to execute each shot. When I get on the first tee, I want to be able to tell myself that I did everything I could in order to play well that week. I’ve done the practice, I’ve gotten used to the course. I’ve spent the time in the gym. I’ve got my mind right. I’ve checked all the little boxes that I need to in order to play well. So when it comes time to hit that first tee shot, I can swing freely and know it’s time to compete. I’m not worried about the other stuff. I’m not worried about anything outside of trying to compete in that golf tournament.”

During my time in the interview between Josh Skinner and Jennifer McCrary, I got to see the behind the scenes production of the interview. One major takeaway from being able to see the behind the scenes is that there is a lot more that goes into producing a quality interview than just showing up with questions for the interviewee. This experience connects to the film class that I took during my junior year where I learned how to operate cameras and microphones and the important elements that go into a film such as different angles and coverages, B-roll, and creative ways to film. My camera skills came in handy during the interview when I was asked to operate the camera and ensure the audio quality was clear while Josh Skinner interviewed Jennifer McCrary. After the interview, Josh Skinner shared that he conducts his interviews by trying to foster a natural flowing conversation instead of having a strict list of questions to follow. This creates a sense of comfort for the interviewee and allows for more authentic responses. I also spoke with Jennifer McCrary about the importance of community, as that is a key value in both of our lives. She offered insight on ways that I can increase my community involvement, better my community, and help others around me.

This opportunity to work closely with the media and see firsthand the business and marketing aspect of golf has truly been one of a kind. In the future, I am interested in the field of business, and I would like to pursue a career in sports marketing and media. Through my involvement as a media correspondent today, I have further been inspired to continue my passion for sports, media, and marketing. As I look forward to my senior year of golf, Scottie reminded me to, “enjoy it, enjoy the practices, and yeah, just have fun with it.”

By Vincent Kray, Drew Charter School Senior and Drew Charter School Golfer