Golf Success: Insights from Rising Star Josiah Gilbert

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Auburn Teammates Shaped Josiah’s Mindset On Golf And Life

Joining Auburn placed Josiah around accomplished players who expected to succeed. Teammates such as Carson, JM Butler, Brendan Valdez, Jackson, and Alex approached each day with the belief that they were going to play professional golf. The question was not whether they would get there, but what they needed to do and when it would happen.

That mindset changed Josiah’s approach. In high school, he often thought success would come if he played well and got hot at the right time. At Auburn, he learned to expect success and develop the habits needed to achieve it. He believes winning teams are built by like-minded people who share the same goals and beliefs.

Josiah described JM Butler and Alex Vogelsong as two of the best leaders he has ever been around, particularly during his freshman year. He also developed a close friendship with Brendan Valdez, living with him from the time Brendan was diagnosed with cancer until he became cancer-free.

Brendan called Josiah shortly after his diagnosis while Josiah was traveling to Australia to play the Master of the Amateurs. Brendan delivered the news with a lighthearted attitude, saying he would be fine and expected to be finished with treatment by August.

That confidence continued throughout the process. Brendan treated cancer as another challenge he would overcome before returning to professional golf. He never spoke as if it might remain; he focused on beating it by the deadline he had set for himself.

Watching a close friend and teammate go through that experience gave Josiah a new perspective. It reminded him that golf is not everything and that the ability to play can be taken away in a single day.