Photo: Dean & DeLuca Invitational
The past two weeks have been golf nirvana in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, with the AT&T Byron Nelson, quickly followed by the Dean & Deluca Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. Throngs of spectators, sponsors and media from around the globe converged to see just what greatness would emerge.
But, here’s the thing. Although every golfer revels in the (all too infrequent) days when everything goes his or her way, winning tournaments takes a little more grit. Namely, the ability to fight your way through when your swing is far from a perfect 10.
News flash: not every pro golfer is firing on all cylinders in every round. But, with a little tenacity and the mental strength to muscle through, a good golfer with a swing that’s gone Ferris Bueller for the day still has a shot at winning. If he or she keeps the game between the ears in check.
“Some of the greatest players have talked about contending or winning without their “A” game. Tiger showed everyone he could win without his A game, and if he had his game, he could beat everyone by a lot. Jack Nicklaus did the same,” said PGA Tour pro Adam Scott. “To win 18 majors and be close so many times—he can’t have been firing every one of them. It’s experience and course management and those things you get over time by being out there that makes the difference.”
The ability to hustle, instead of trying to correct the swing during a tournament round, is everything. Case in point? Jordan Spieth led the Dean & Deluca Invitational on Saturday. And missed six of his first seven fairways of the day. He went on to win the tournament, and claim his first Texas victory, with a chip in and a string of long birdie putts.
“I think with all the stats and information that are gathered now, some of these young guys can learn to manage their games a lot quicker,” Scott said, at the ripe old age of 36. “That’s the big difference I see with the young players now. They’re so much more mature at a young age, from a course management side of things. For me, and guys older than me, a lot of learning how to manage your game was trial and error. Now, there’s so much information on what happens when you go for the green in two; how everyone else did going for it; the percentages of converting it into a birdie—and the risk and the reward. You’re not just going off of your impression, but actual facts.”
So, if golfers aren’t playing their best, they have tactical strategies to work their ways around the golf course.
But, what about the rest of us? The double-digit handicappers? How can we get through the round, or the tournament, when things start tanking? Rule one: don’t start thinking about every lesson or get too technical. Chances are, the more you try to correct, the worse it will get.
“I try to teach my students not to control outcomes but trust their process,” explained Joey Anders, head teaching professional at Dallas’ Brookhaven Country Club and Jordan Spieth’s first golf coach. “They can’t control weather or wind, but they can control attitude, routine and perspective. If they’re in a good place mentally, and they can hit two good shots in a row, they can turn their game around.”
Whether you’re a touring pro, or a weekend player vying for pro shop credits, that’s often easier said than done. Anders’ advice? Prepare for the worst and when it (inevitably) comes, you’ll know just what to do.
“Have a plan for when things aren’t going well and don’t try to do too much,” Anders said. “Hit the easy shot. Maybe just aim to the middle of the green. Take less club off the tee and choose a longer club with an approach shot—and swing easy.”
The ultimate goal? Work with what you have that day.
“Quit trying to operate at maximum capacity when all the cylinders aren’t firing smoothly,” Anders said. “Just execute your emergency plan to get off the course with as little damage as possible.”
Because, pro, amateur or weekend hacker, tomorrow is another day.
