Troy men’s golfer Lee Poppell described his approach to routine and leadership in an interview released on March 26. Poppell, a junior from Tallahassee, Florida, shared insights into his personal habits, athletic development, and role within the Trojans’ young squad.
Poppell’s reflections highlight the importance of consistency for athletes. He said that establishing routines both on and off the course has helped him perform under pressure. “It sounds weird, but it was my time of the day where I would know I wouldn’t be bothered … to have 20 minutes to just kind of decompress,” Poppell said about his pre-practice lunch routine last season. Changes this year have seen him shift that downtime to the team’s facility.
Discussing his preparation for competition, Poppell emphasized mental training: “I worked with a lot of mental coaches and they all kind of preached the same thing…if you can train your routine…you almost fall back into it and routine hits that shot for you.” He detailed having separate routines for putting, chipping, and full swings as part of his strategy.
Poppell did not always focus on golf; he played basketball, flag football, and soccer before committing fully to golf in high school. His decision paid off with notable achievements such as a second place at the 2022 Florida Junior Tour Championship and victories in regional tournaments before joining Troy late in his senior year. “I got my offer from Troy real late…and it’s really worked out,” he said.
The athlete also spoke about recent improvements in his game after changing swing coaches last August: “Right now is probably the best I’ve hit the golf ball in my life.” Increased driving distance has led to adjustments but contributed positively during competitions like last year’s NCAA Urbana Regional where he tied for 18th overall.
Now considered one of Troy’s leaders alongside Pablo Garcia, Poppell is focused on helping develop younger teammates while aiming for individual success. With several freshmen joining this season’s roster, he sees potential for future growth: “We’ve got a very young team…if we get some momentum going into next year…that’s a big goal of mine.”
