In Conversation with Top-Ranked PGA TOUR Golfer Patrick Cantlay

Meet Apollo and Athene's new brand partner, Patrick Cantlay.

We spent a few minutes catching up with Patrick ahead of announcing our brand partnership this morning and next week's tournament. The American Express is hosted at PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, CA, where Patrick holds the course record of 61. 

We are incredibly excited about this partnership. What attracted you to partner with Apollo and Athene?

My passion for the investment industry is no secret, and I am excited to partner with Apollo and Athene as the firm’s first brand partner and the first athlete to represent a leading alternative asset manager. It has been incredible learning about their various business lines from providing large-scale financings to well-known companies to generating investment and retirement income for millions of families.

Apollo’s track record of success and high-performance culture resonates deeply with me. I pride myself on my work ethic and commitment to processes that help me to consistently perform at the highest levels, and Apollo approaches investing with that same rigor and focus on results.

You’ve obviously had an incredibly impressive start to your career. What has been your favorite moment on the course as a professional?

It’s hard to pick a specific moment, but competing on the international stage and representing the United States alongside my teammates in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups are certainly some of the best moments you can have as a professional golfer and ones that I will cherish forever.

On TOUR, winning is always the goal. The FedEx Cup Championship in 2021 and being voted PGA TOUR Player of the Year by my fellow players were definitely highlights. Being able to get the job done when the pressure is at its highest validates all the hard work and time spent trying to get a little better every day.

What are you most looking forward to this season on the PGA TOUR?

I’m excited about the tournaments to come in 2024 because competing and winning golf tournaments is one of my favorite things I do, and while winning is always the goal, they are really byproducts of all the hard work you put in. Hopefully I have a few of them in store this year.

How are you able to stay focused during pressure moments throughout the year and what do you use at motivation?

I believe a combination of preparation and process is the recipe for success. All of the planning and hard work I put in ahead of time helps give me the confidence to execute in those pressure-packed moments. In many ways, golf and investing share similarities. There are ups and downs to each round and those who have the greatest preparation, focus, and resiliency often enjoy the most success.

You founded The Patrick Cantlay Foundation in 2019 – what led you to create the Foundation and what your goals are with it?

I feel very fortunate to be able to play golf for a living, and it means a lot to me to give back. That being said, my Foundation focuses on two main pillars: junior golf and first responders.

With respect to junior golf, we focus on initiatives that provide elite playing opportunities for kids to showcase their skills. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to provide support for kids who may represent the next generation of TOUR players.

I also have tremendous respect and appreciation for our first responders who, along with their families, sacrifice so much to support and protect our communities. I am proud to have recently partnered with The First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) as an Official Ambassador and created The Patrick Cantlay Scholarship, which awards four-year scholarships to first responder children who demonstrate business acumen and aspire to become entrepreneurs. I am also excited to connect with local FRCF chapters and invite first responder children and their families out to PGA TOUR tournaments in their home cities throughout the year.

When you’re not practicing and competing for championships on the course, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Off the course, I am an avid reader and love all types of non-fiction books from biographies on influential historical figures to philosophy. Musically, I am a bit of an old soul and listen to classic rock artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s – my favorite band is probably Led Zeppelin. I also enjoy classic movies and playing chess or cards with friends and family.

Can you tell us about your morning routine and how you prepare for events?

My pre-round (and post-round) routine during tournaments is a big part of my overall process. Before tournaments, I always work with my trainer before I step out on the driving range to hit balls. From a golf standpoint, I always start my warmup with putting and then chipping before heading to the range, where I start with wedges and work my way up to driver. After each round, I work with my trainer again to help recover and get myself ready to do it all over again the next morning.

Are you a coffee drinker – if so, what’s your go-to order?

Yes, just plain black coffee.

You’ve said that you have a strong interest in investing. Do you have any ambitions in the investment world after you retire from professional golf?

I’m fascinated by the world of alternative investing, and it’s one of the most exciting parts of this partnership to me. I hope to set myself up as a strategic investor and work toward a career post-golf as an athlete in business. I am looking forward to learning more about alternatives through my partnership with Apollo and Athene, as the firm is a leader and innovator in the industry.

I do have a specific affinity for real estate. Recently, through my family office, we purchased our first apartment as the sole GP. Something we're working on all the time is trying to create a multifamily real estate business that I can step into later in life after my golf career ends.

Partnering with Patrick

Patrick Cantlay, an eight-time winner on the PGA TOUR, is currently ranked fifth in the Official World Golf Rankings and was a member of the victorious US Ryder Cup (2020) and Presidents Cup (2019 and 2022) teams. We believe that Patrick shares many of the same qualities that embody our approach to investing at Apollo – a relentless pursuit of excellence, commitment to his craft and rigorous approach to the game – and we are thrilled to partner with him.