I watched in amazement as Jordan Spieth, rock solid for the first three rounds of the Open Championship, struggled to make a putt and could not find a fairway for twelve holes. He teed off on the difficult 13th hole and his drive was amazing–100 yards off line and luckily found by the large gallery but in an unplayable lie. For twenty minutes he worked with the officials to find a line of flight drop area, he cleared the crowd and got back into the fairway. A fine chip and putt and he only fell one stroke out of the lead. Most of us could not manage or overcome the emotion, let alone at one of golf’s four major championships. Confidence, once shaken, is not your friend. Jordan admitted he was questioning himself and paid highest praise to Michael, his caddy, for keeping him stable and focused. The rest is history, a record comeback, playing the last 5 holes at 5 under par. The resurgence allowed Spieth to join a very short list of those winning three of the majors before his 23rd birthday. He could make history with a win at the PGA championship, the fourth leg of the Slam. Spieth is a great role model for the youth of today- he has his priorities well established and in spite of his success still has retained perspective and humility.
I have played golf since Ed, my father, taught me at five years old. Sixty years of competitive and social golf gives me a seasoned view on the challenges of a very difficult game. The physical skills can generally be learned, the mental part of the game is the big issue and the major obstacle to success. I am not sure who said it me but I repeat it often. “I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory”. Yes, everything was going great until I worried about what might go wrong. Negative thoughts in golf have a high frequency of becoming reality. My friend John says “early ripe, early rotten” a reference to the negative state of mind that something bad will happen before you begin a round. Charley Wilson always reminded his playing partners-“no crabgrass in your mental garden”. I will conclude with advice from Ed which served me well for all these years, “concentrate on where you want the ball to go” seems obvious but so many of us golfer’s aim away from the trouble generally assuring we will hit the ball there. Most of the pressure that causes these problems is self imposed. I could barely catch my breath on the first tee at the old course at Saint Andrews, so much history, you must hit a good tee shot. I had the same feeling on the sixteenth at Cyprus Point and most recently on the first tee at the two man bestball at Jug Mountain this summer. I love this game and its complexity and truly appreciate those who can overcome the physical and mental demands it affords. Jordan Spieth has negative thoughts, the difference is he can mentally push them aside.
Hank is a student of the game and he has learned from Jake and the Never Land pirates and their Pirate’s Putt/Putt what every serious golfer should know. “Concentrate, aim, and hit the ball”. The ability to have muscle memory work its repetitive magic without the interference of the brain is a key to success. Arnold Palmer put it best about golf and life “success depends less on strength of body than the strength of mind and character”. Well, “I’ve got that going for me.”
Enjoy the week end. Mike.