Test test is this thing on?
.... I’ve used that one before haven’t I?
Oh well, anyway moving on. Hi Everyone! I’m back after a few months since I brought you the last interview. I hope to make this a little more often instead of every few months. I have a few great interviews coming up and I’m so excited to start out with this one I’m about to bring to you.
Tonight, you’ll get to know someone from the golf world. I really enjoyed getting to chat with her and get to learn more about a world I’m not as familiar with.
So let’s get to it. I’m pleased to welcome Hailey Ostrom to The Whitterview!
Tell me about you!
HO: I grew up in Bend, Oregon with my parents and younger brother. I started playing every sport possible as a kid, including golf. Golf wasn't my favorite sport, but it was one that came the most natural to me. My dad became the president of Central Oregon Junior Golf Association (COJGA) and signed me up for tournaments when I was nine years old. I was able to play against girls my own age and learn the sport, scoring, rules, etc. I have COJGA to thank for my career in golf.
What was your favorite round of golf you played while in college?
HO: It's was senior year Conference Championship. I had been in a car accident about a week and a half prior to the tournament. I was seeing a PT every day to put my ribs back into place and help with back spasms I was having and considering telling my coach to put someone else in the tournament to help our team's chances at winning, but my dad talked me out of it. He assured me my worst day on the course was still better than someone else's best day. The tournament was at Crosswater Golf Course in Sunriver, Oregon. It was a course I grew up playing - thanks to COJGA! I taped heat packs to my back to keep it from spasming in the cold Oregon weather. After day one I was tied for the lead with one of my teammates. All I was trying to do was take it one shot at a time and keep my back from firing. I kept telling myself, "Just hit this shot as best you can and then move on". On the final day I made it to the last hole. I had a short wedge shot over a bunker to an elevated green, water long and wind dead into me. I also had the pressure of thinking this could be my last hole of my collegiate golf career. I was back and forth on clubs, trying to figure out the right yardage with the wind. Finally I hit the shot and....I stuffed it! I had about a 15-footer for birdie. I looked over at my family who had watched the entire tournament, including my dog, Bogey. I had to look away so I wouldn't get emotional before the end. At this point I had no idea where I stood in the tournament. I could have been dead last for all I knew, and it wouldn't have mattered. I walked up and drained my putt for birdie on my final hole. It turns out, that putt gave me the victory. I won the Conference Championship by one stroke over my teammate and helped lead my team to the National Championship. It was a storybook ending.
Tell me about Shotmakers and your time on it:
HO: Shotmakers were some of the best days of my life. Like a lot of golfers, I always dreamed of competing on The Big Break. Since they had canceled the show, this seemed like the next best thing. It really was a dream come true. I tried to enjoy every moment and keep it in perspective. I was paired up with Andrew Bachelder, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He was a bit nervous once the cameras were on and we constantly found ourselves in the elimination challenge most nights. Looking back after filming we joked that we just wanted more airtime. We were beat during the semi-finals and somehow were the only team that walked away without winning anything. But I didn't care. I came out of it with new friendships and memories that would last a lifetime.
If you weren’t golfing what do you think you’d be doing instead?
HO: I love writing, so I could see myself being a writer or a reporter of some sort. I always wanted to be a sports broadcaster and be on tv on a regular basis. I love being in front of the camera, that's why I created a job around social media!
What has been your most memorable round of golf you’ve ever played?
HO: Recently I was invited to play in the LIV golf pro-am at Trump National Bedminster. I didn't know what to expect and wasn't overly excited about going if I'm being honest. For me it was just another travel gig, as sad as that sounds. But I couldn't have been more wrong! I ended up being paired with Ian Poulter, Paul Casy and Caitlin Jenner! It was the most fun I have ever had in a round of golf. It didn't hurt that I played lights out! And before anyone asks, Caitlin played from the mens tees. She is the sweetest and funniest person I've ever met. She would put her arm around me and say "We're just the two babes, a trans babe and a cis babe". She referred to me as "Babe" all day and even asked for my number after the round so we could get together and play again sometime. How many people can say one of the worlds greatest athletes of all time, Caitlin Jenner, called them babe?
What professional golfer has been the greatest influence in your life?
HO: Like most female golfers, Annika Sorenstam was one of my heroes as a child. Seeing her crush records, win tournaments and compete with the men meant everything to my young, competitive heart. It showed me I really could do anything and my gender couldn't stop me. She embraced being a woman and proved so may people wrong in a sport that still had a long way to grow. She will always be one of my icons.
Tell me about your collab with Bob Does Sports and would you collab with him again?
HO: Ah Bobby. My sweet Bobby. The world is a better place because of him, truly. He is hilarious 24/7. People think his character is just an act, but I can tell you it isn't. He really does "talk like that" and he really is just as funny when the cameras are off. I will collab with him whenever he'd like.
If you could be sponsored by any brand which would it be?
HO: I would LOVE an airline sponsor. With how much I travel I think it makes the most sense. I also always wanted RedBull as a sponsor, but never pursued it.
If you could compete on any other show that doesn’t have to do with golf which would it be?
HO: Any competition show would be awesome. I actually recently auditioned for The Amazing Race with my boyfriend. We made it to the finals of auditions but they said "we didn't have enough drama".
And finally if you could have dinner with three people who would they be and why?
HO: I would probably choose Elon Musk, Mark Wahlberg and Tiger Woods. I have no idea what we'd talk about, but I think I could learn something from each of those people...Marky Mark is more for my own entertainment, though.
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