Insider: J.J. Killeen's future going full speed ahead

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

J.J. Killeen is on a roll, winning two tournaments in the past two weeks, and is hoping to make it a three-peat this week at the Price Cutter Charity Championship.

There's something to be said for paying your dues before hitting it big.

A perfect example is J.J. Killeen, the Nationwide Tour's hottest player who is sizzling like never before.

Over the last two weeks, Killeen has picked up his first two career victories. Using the words "picked up" isn't really accurate; it would be better to say he went out and attacked his way to two victories.

He went 22-under par in each win, first at the Utah Championship and then at the Cox Classic in Omaha.

"Last week was a big week, emotionally and physically," Killeen said about his first win. "I was tired and I had to do a lot of things coming off the win I wasn't used to doing but I still kept my focus."

Despite being worn out, and somewhat shell-shocked after that initial victory, Killeen, 29, kept on chugging along and didn't stop until he was in the winners circle again.

So how has his golf game changed this year compared to previous years?

One thing he attributes to this year's consistency is the work he's done with instructor Chris O'Connell, who works in Dallas and also advises PGA TOUR players Matt Kuchar, Scott Piercy and Stewart Cink.

O'Connell said that at the end of last season Killeen needed guidance.

"He came to me and said, 'I'm the worst ball-striker on the Nationwide Tour,' and I knew that wasn't true and he was exaggerating. He's a very talented kid and the biggest thing we worked on was getting him to be able to fix his swing and how to understand how to fix it."

O'Connell said Killeen had a tendency to hit it left on too many occasions.

"He's been great to work with and I told him after that first win that now that you've got that first one the best time to win your second is right away. He's just been really consistent and I think he's missed just one cut all season."

O'Connell, who was voted by Golf Digest as one of the best young teachers last year, has helped Killeen put everything together for a reliable swing.

"This is my fourth year out here," Killeen said about his Nationwide Tour experience. "I played reasonably well last season, but as far as the swing part of it, I started working with Chris about nine months ago and I've been a lot more consistent. My short game was always my strength, but it's nice to get everything tied together."

The laid-back San Diego native who graduated from Texas Christian in 2005 says he has also done a better job of avoiding golf when he's off the course. And that's helped because his young family has been going to tournaments.

"My family gets to come with me quite a bit and that's relaxing," Killeen said. "Off the course, we aren't really talking about golf much and I'm changing a lot of diapers and doing other things so that's been fine. And on the golf course I'm really motivated to be out there and that makes a difference."

He's been so busy putting his game together he hasn't had a chance to update his website, which has been idle since April of 2009.

Killeen admits there have been times in previous years where he wasn't exactly brimming with confidence heading to the course. But this season has been much different.

"I've always enjoyed going to the course, but if you are a little more motivated, I think it becomes a little fun and you can focus on the task at hand," Killeen said.

In his last eight tournaments, Killeen has three top-five finishes and a stroke average of 68.25 for his last 32 rounds. He's broken par 28 times during that stretch and has also posted 16 straight rounds under par.

It had been almost four years since a Nationwide Tour player had won in back-to-back weeks, and Killeen is only the sixth player to do so in the 22 year history of the Nationwide Tour.

"I've worked really hard in all parts of my game," Killeen said about how he looked at this season in January. "After starting to work with Chris, I had a lot of belief in what I was doing instead of just kind of going through the motions. So that was really big."

Killeen has tried not to look too far ahead, but in 2012 he will most likely be on the PGA TOUR for the first time, having never even played in a PGA TOUR event.

"When I'm on the course, I really just focus on what we are doing out there and not really looking ahead to next year and what that will entail," Killeen said. "Obviously the PGA TOUR is down the road, so that's not something I'm focusing on at this point. I've tried to qualify for a couple of PGA TOUR events, but I'm committed to this Tour and I'm worried about this season," Killeen said.

Killeen had played in a 100 Nationwide Tour tournaments in his career, but he struck it rich in his next two tournaments, shooting a combined 44-under par. His development is now at full speed.

"I wouldn't trade that for anything," Killeen said about his time on the Nationwide Tour. "I had some success that first year, but I found out you really have to be consistent with all parts of your game and that's what I've been trying to get from my game."

Killeen will try to become the first player in Nationwide Tour history to win three tournaments in a row in three straight weeks.

Jason Gore won three straight tournament starts in 2005, but his wins weren't three weeks in a row.

Killeen is in the field for this week's Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, MO. With Mathew Goggin taking the week off, Killeen could overtake Goggin for the top spot on the Tour's money list.

Killeen says that if and when he does get to the PGA TOUR, he'll have plenty of experience to lean on.

"It's an opportunity to show what I can do on the PGA TOUR, and this Tour really prepares you for that and I've learned a lot," Killeen said. "Hopefully I can finish this year strong and carry that into next year on the PGA TOUR."

John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 18 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. You can reach him at johndell@triad.rr.com.