What is the Difference-Maker Late in a Round of Golf?
Sure, talent is important, and so are solid drives, a strong short game, and steady putting.
However, how frequently have you seen talented professional golfers fall apart on the back-nine when they dominated early in the round?
How many times have you seen golfers who can outdrive the competition but not outperform the competition when it matters most?
How often have you seen top golfers with high putting percentages have difficulty dropping the ball in the cup with a few holes remaining and the tournament on the line?
Undoubtedly, talent is necessary to win tournaments or post low scores. However, when the tournament is up for grabs, the golfer with the most significant advantage is the mentally tougher golfer.
Mentally tough golfers share several characteristics:
- Handle pressure during highly competitive situations. Instead of fearing the worst, mentally tough golfers lock in on making the best shot moment by moment.
- Stay calm and composed no matter the circumstances. Players who can control their nerves and focus on the shot at hand conserve their energy and perform better in clutch moments.
- Have confidence in executing their plan, especially when the stakes are high.
- Make smart decisions and know when to take risks and when to play conservatively.
- Grind when course conditions are challenging when there is slight separation on the leaderboard, or after an errant shot.
- Manage emotions, whether it’s dealing with the excitement of being in contention or frustration from earlier mistakes.
Mental toughness separates golfers who play confidently and excel in the late stages of a round from those who falter and fall apart.
At the 2024 Presidents Cup, the Americans won for the 10th straight time, beating the International team 18 1/2 to 11 1/2. Both teams had talented players.
Ultimately, mental toughness was the deciding factor. The US team captain, Jim Furyk, was impressed by the team’s ability to maintain their composure and grind out the win.
FURYK: “We talked about being a dog all week, being the tougher team. Those back nine holes, if you look at how many holes won and lost, I’ve got to feel we owned the back nine this week, and that was the difference.”
“Being a dog” is a great way to describe mental toughness. “Being a dog” is a golfer who is relentless, resilient, and fiercely competitive.
“Being a dog” is a refusal to back down, whether you are a stroke ahead or down by three strokes.
“Being a dog” is a golfer who looks forward to challenges and demonstrates grit under pressure. If you want to be a dog, then you must commit to building your mental toughness.
Commit to mental toughness training for at least one hour a week. There are plenty of resources available, including Mental Game Coaches.
After all, would you rather hope you are mentally tough late in a round or know you are mentally tough?
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