[O.B.Left]

Just have fun Sean. Thats what the game is supposed be isnt it?

I know that sounds horribly lame but trying too hard can really ruin things, make you play worse than normal as opposed to better.

See the target in your minds eye, feel the pressures in your hands and your good. Just like in other sports. Keep your focus on the target not mechanics or shoulda couldas, barometric pressure or where the trouble is. Too much thinking is stinking thinking, in my tournament book. To play, and tournament golf is play, as opposed to practice, you have to play by feel, not mechanics. I know Im losing it when I start thinking about mechanics. Sometimes its unavoidable maybe, during rounds gone wrong.

After Sydney Crosby scored the gold winning goal at the Olympics a reporter ran up and asked him to describe it all. He couldnt answer, he didnt remember. The reporter kept trying differnt angles, Syd replied that he honestly didnt remember anything. On the other hand, Id venture we all remember every second of our golf melt downs in tournaments. Leave the brain alone so it can work its wonders with the hands. If you thought about shaving and how to do it, planned it, stayed up late to map it out etc you'd cut yourself to ribbons. Im not suggesting that you dont prepare or anything, but there comes a time when you have to perform, dance like no one is watching. Its best done with a clear mind.

Good luck with it. Good golf is fun and maybe just maybe having fun breeds good golf. I know this isnt the answer you want to hear but........but its something I try to tell myself when playing for keeps. You get what your last thought was before you hit I find. If, when actually hitting, through well intentioned preparation you perceive there to be trouble out there instead of the target, your focussing on the wrong thing. Make a plan, for sure, please, as an intelligent golfer must, but do so before addressing the ball. Then turn it over to a mental picture of the target when actually playing the shot. You dont drive down the street saying to yourself "dont do this, dont do that, dont turn there, dont ....." Thats our wifes job!


Oh and a more practical thought.............its not the bad shot that kills you , its the one(s) after it. So dont beat yourself up too much, stay in the game. Bad shots happen, and often, for everyone. And that is borne of blood, sweat and a lot freakin tears. I got my yardage horribly wrong once , over shot the green by 30 yards and ended up in third by a couple of shots, after three days of solid play because of ............... taking four more shots to get up and down, due to being so steamed at myself. The seven iron from 130 didnt kill me, the way I responded to it did! I quit. So dont. No matter how bad it may seem. Everyone else is probably suffering too. Its a cruel, cruel game after all. Especially tournament golf.

Maybe all of this is akin to whistling your way through the grave yard........ with a steel like resolve and an eye on the destination. Moe talked about a "healthy indifference". He could be quite profound sometimes. So yah, Id say its sort of like trying to have fun, staying focused, expecting bad shots and tasting blood all at the same time. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

Good for you by the way, there is nothing to lose and much to be gained! The hero dies but once , a coward dies a thousand deaths.