Editor's Note: The following Q&A with PGA Tour veteran Kevin Na appeared in the May-June 2009 edition of Fairways + Greens. As the Florida swing neared its close that spring, he had logged four top 10 finishes and was looking to qualify for the Masters, but couldn't nab his elusive first Tour win to make it happen. He finally broke through, after more than 200 Tour starts over eight years, at last week's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas. Below he talks about his strict workout regimen, Tiger Woods' dominance and his friendship with former online poker phenom and golf buddy Dusty Schmidt.

After six years on the PGA Tour’s breakthrough bubble, Kevin Na is finally ready to puncture that sucker. You can just see it in the way he’s attacking golf courses these days, how he seems as confident as anyone out there. While golf pundits continue to call fellow SoCal product Anthony Kim the next Tiger tamer, it’s time to give Na a look, too. When FG caught up with the Orange County phenom a couple days after his T8 finish at the Transitions Championship in mid-March — his fourth Top 10 finish in seven events this season — he was gearing up for a potential showdown with the ultimate SoCal-bred superstar at Arnie’s Bay Hill party, and hoping to shoehorn himself into a last-minute Masters slot.

Na, who reached $5 million in career winnings with his Transitions finish, has been grinding, working hard, doing all the right stuff it takes to seal the deal. Still, he finds time to check in with old boyhood buddy Dusty Schmidt, a.k.a. “Leatherass,” one of the world’s top online poker players and former roommate of this Fairways + Greens’ May-June 2009 cover subject, Casey Martin.

You’re edging up on a million bucks this year. What are you looking at for the rest of the season, both short- and long-term?

Short term, I have two weeks to get into the Masters. It used to be that the Top 10 on the money list got in, but they got rid of that. I need a W. That’s one of my goals this year. I’ve been out here long enough that I feel it’s my turn to win. I at least want to finish in the Top 30 in FedEx Cup points this year, so I’ll get in all the majors next year. The bottom line is just trying to become a better player every year, working hard on my game. If you feel like you improve yourself, you’re gonna play better.

Everyone on Tour is conscious of staying physically fit. Is there a guy on tour you like to work out with, so you can kind of push each other?

My caddy is a big-time workout fanatic. I like to go to the gym with him. He can lift some weights!

People who watch TV don’t realize how much a round of golf takes out of you when you’re playing. It’s not like a round with the boys when you’re having a few beers; when we’re playing it takes a lot of energy to focus, and when we’re focused, we have to be physically fit, eat well … all that stuff.

Tiger is in such good shape. He’s in contention every week, and it takes a lot out of him. He’s in better shape than everyone else out there. He uses it to get an edge. And he does have an edge on everybody.

What specifically have you been tweaking in your game to get you sniffing the top 5 or 10 every time you’re out there?

I’ve improved in a lot of my game. Better shots, putting, short game, I’m in better shape — but the biggest key is, this year my swing has been very consistent week-in, week-out. It’s been right there. I don’t have to search for something on the range. It’s consistent every day.

You don’t just “play with the swing you wake up with,” like some of the old timers say?

You do have days sometimes when you wake up and you’re stuck with whatever flaws you’ve got that day. If you’re pulling shots that day, you just have to play with it. But it’s nice to be able to hit the shot you want with you need it.

Being from the West, are there a couple of favorite events out here that you look forward to playing in? You’ve played at the Reno-Tahoe Open, right?

I have, but I love Riviera. Just a great golf course, it’s a Southern California tournament [the Northern Trust Open], and I look forward to playing in it every year.

Obviously you want to get to Augusta, but beyond that, are there some touchstone events you’re looking forward to?

The Players Championship. I think it should be a major. Even though it’s not, they treat you like it’s one, and it’s the strongest field event.

This year, the economy has some PGA Tour sponsors bailing altogether or cutting back. Do you see a difference in player attitudes and the overall vibe you get out there?

I think so. Guys are thankful that even in this tough economy, we’re able to have sponsors who stick with us, and we haven’t lost any tournaments. I’m very thankful, and I do everything I can to please sponsors, even if it’s just taking the time to stop by to say thank you. I think guys are doing that more. Even before all this stuff was going on, most Tour players have been good about that.

Let’s talk about your relationship with Dusty Schmidt. You guys grew up together in Southern Cal?

Our parents were members at Western Hills Country Club. We played junior golf tournaments together, grew up playing lots of rounds, putting for money. That was a lot of fun. We’d putt against the pros there. He knows my game very well. He’s actually caddied for me quite a bit, at two U.S. Juniors, one U.S. Amateur and one Asian Tour event in Korea. We friend and still talk to each other.

Did you follow him around at Western Hills that day when he took on the pro and beat him with just a 4-iron?

No. I hadn’t heard about that …

Yeah, Dusty was about 14, and the pro was kind of blowing him off because he was a kid. Finally Dusty said he could beat him with a 4-iron, and did it.

Wow. That sounds like something Dusty would do.

Do you follow poker at all, and Dusty’s exploits as “Leatherass” as they call him?

Yeah, we’ll talk about it. He’s doing very well for himself as a professional poker player. I always ask him how he did in world tournaments, and when his next tournament is going to be. I’m hoping he’ll get a world championship bracelet, but I tell him I’m going to win a tournament before he gets a bracelet.
We’ll put a little friendly bet on it.