What do the winners do? How do they prepare? What do they think? Research that and follow the formula and your game will improve, guaranteed.
Having the opportunity to work with a friend and client at the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, I was able to observe the greatest field of 2007 practice and play from “inside the ropes.” Preparing for the week and practicing their games, these, the greatest players of the game, did many things similar. One, they spent much more time on their short games than they did hitting practice balls (I’ll get back to that).
Two, these greats of the game also spent a good portion of practice in the bunkers rehearsing different shot angles, lies and distances. Their pitching practice went from fairway cut to light rough to the deep Bermuda rough they would face (like we have here in our area). They would not only hit their lofted wedges but worked on lower shots with less lofted clubs.
Three, on the practice tee, the short greens (less than 75 yards) were littered with golf balls proving the pros’ propensity to rehearse and be confident in their distance with their wedges. The next “busiest” greens were at 130- 170 yards showing that most of the practice was with the irons in their bags. The most Drivers I observed any one of these professionals hit in practice was maybe 15.
And four, on the putting green, I observed much more time spent on their stroke path, tempo and rhythm and lag putting and distance control. Rarely did I see any of the professionals grinding over 4-6 foot putts. They understand that the better your lag putting and chipping is, the less often you will even have a 4-6 footer left for a two putt or up and down.
Jump forward a year – 2008 Constellation Energy Senior Player’s Championship and our own newly crowned MAJOR CHAMPION, D.A. Weibring. After a successful re-opening of TPC Las Colinas, home of the EDS Byron Nelson Classic, D.A. focused on the rest of his season on the Champions TOUR. He practiced hard on his game and focused hard on his putting and finding a putter that fit his stroke to give him the best chance to make more putts. Having a chance to have a brief conversation with him after his victory another thing really stuck out in our conversation. He was recalling critical tee shots and putts he had during the last few holes of the tournament. He constantly spoke of past shots he had been successful with in his career that gave him great positive images to execute these shots in crucial pressure filled situations. This recall kept him relaxed and confident over the shots he needed to secure his first Major victory.
The moral of this story? Do what the winners do. All those PGA TOUR players are winners. To get to that level of play, to be one of the best 125 players in the world, you have to be. 1) Spend more time on your short game. 2) Spend more time on your putting stroke and speed control. 3) Spend time perfecting your swing with the irons. The driver will follow. 4) Practice wisely. Practice the shots you will need on the courses you play. And 5) Remember and recall your great shots. They not are only great when you made them but will lead to great ones down the road. Just ask D.A.!
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