Michael Sloan
PERSONAL – Michael lives in Campbell, California and is single with no kids. He works for his brothers asphalt company and has been golfing since he was 9 years old. He loves the outdoors – fishing, hunting, and camping.
TIE TO THE MONTEMAR – Michael met Drew McGhie when they were 4 years-old in tee ball but they didn’t become besties until Majors (10-12). I talked about it a little with both Drew and Luke McGhie’s profiles but the McGhie boys know sports. Most men can talk sports but the McGhie brothers actually know what they’re talking about, and have some pretty good opinions also. It’s the thing I remember from when I met them all in a bar in Clear Lake. Apparently this goes back a long time. Drew’s dad Gary was managing a major’s little league team (I’d love to know what rounds they let him draft all three of his sons in) and it was actually Drew’s older brother’s, Luke and Josh, who are probably responsible for Drew and Michael becoming besties and for Michael finding his way to the Montemar.
Michael’s dad was a very good ball player – more on that in the fun facts – and Luke and Josh knew this. They also knew Michael was young but draftable player and that if their dad drafted Michael, there was a pretty good shot they could convince his dad David to be the assistant coach. Gary McGhie drafted Michael, David agreed to help coach. Drew and Michael have been besties for ever, Michael’s parents consider the McGhie brother’s sons, and the Montemar gets another great addition. Michael seems like a great dude who’s good at golf, loves sports, and happens to be another former baseball player – seems like at least half of us were – for the Montemar.
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MONTEMAR – Michael has some good ideas and will let me know once he decides on a prize to donate.
WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IN 2023– I don’t know the guy, but if he’s anything like his good buddy Drew, the casino underneath his hotel room is going to be the biggest obstacle standing between him and a jacket. He does have the advantage of being single with no kids. I call this an advantage because he can go out whenever he wants, whereas the rest of us can’t and could and probably will go a little over board at time – I can’t not think about Jake in Nashville here. Michael’s got about average payment points, a much better than average game, what looks to be a really solid scramble team, and should be in the hunt come Sunday.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN 2023 – I didn’t say this ahead of time last year because it would have been mean, but I had this weird and random gut feeling that Michael was going to be a total douche bag. I couldn’t have been more wrong, easily one of the coolest and down to earth guys we have. He’s also a pretty solid golfer with a game modeled similar to Jay Cleveland’s. Straight and steady. The greens at TPC Scottsdale got him a bit and he shot an opening round 90, but the man bounced back nicely with an 82 on the final day.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN 2024 – I work on these profiles today and I’m noticing one common theme. Our scoring system made it really hard for the rookie class. Michael isn’t a rookie anymore and will enter the 2024 tournament with an extremely generous handicap of 19. He should be able to do damage with that day 1. He’s got more buddies in the tournament this year vs. last and which ones he chooses to scramble with on Sunday could determine his final outcome. Does he go with some of the sticks or does choose to play with Luke McGhie just because Luke is a cool guy? Or does he choose to play with Luke because those handicap points could be really helpful? There’s a strategy to it all. I would put money on Michael finishing top 15 this year, how he plays things strategically will determine if he climbs higher.
ODDS TO WIN – 19-1
FUN FACT – Michael’s dad, David Sloan, was drafted 9th overall out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the 1975 Major League baseball draft. He went 44 picks ahead of George Brett and 45 picks ahead of Mike Schmidt.
MONTEMARS PLAYED – 1
MONTEMAR ROUNDS PLAYED – 3 (TPC Scottsdale, TS-Piipaash, TS-O’odhaam-2023)
LIFETIME POINT TOTAL – 268.5
JACKETS WON – 0
TOP 3 FINISHES – 0
TOP 5 FINISHES – 0
TOP 10 FINISHES – 0
RECORDS – 0
TOURNAMENT HANDICAP – 18
INVITED BY – Drew McGhie
PLAYERS INVITED - 0
PRIZES DONATED – Michael has some ideas in mind and is going to let me know what he decides to donate.
