Two golfing buddies play every week. They are the same age, work in similar jobs and have three children. They’re both ambitious and have a strong competitive streak.

Twelve months ago Steve was playing off 20. Without working on his swing or changing his technique, he has manged to drop his handicap to 12. His only significant change has been playing more regularly, once or twice a week, compared to a monthly game.

His mate Dave is a different story. He plays off ten, and has so for years now. But he’s stuck there - despite weekly lessons, new clubs and 3 rounds per week. He works constantly on his game, tries hard but can’t seem to improve.

Steve walks off the golf course feeling energised and alive. Dave usually walks off feeling frustrated, tired and angry. Steve feels he is getter better while Dave hasn’t played to his handicap in the last 10 rounds and is talking about giving up.

Worse for Dave is that he hasn’t beaten Steve in three months. This is not easy for him to take. He hadn’t lost to Steve since they were juniors and was considered the “golfing guy” amongst their friends - now Steve has taken over while everyone is wondering what has happened to Dave.

What’s the main difference here?

Steve has learned to play golf. He is able to swing the club naturally and powerfully. He’s not overly concerned about mechanics, positions or style. He simply swings the club freely and without self-doubt. Dave on the other hand is a student of the game. He reads the golf magazines and is constantly tinkering with his swing and equipment. His mind is full of technical thoughts and he is striving for the perfect golf swing. Dave used to play golf, but now he is more worried about his style and doing things correctly.

Dave has lost the magic. While Dave spends most of the day searching for that elusive “perfect” swing, Steve keeps hitting better shots and having a good time. When Dave hits a poor shot (which is happening more of the time) he needs to have five practise swings and explain the fault to anyone that will listen. When Steve hits a bad shot (occasionally) he shrugs his shoulders and gets the ball back into play. He realises that golf can be difficult and indifferent shots are part of the game.

Their most recent game highlighted the difference perfectly.

Dave played the first hole well, making birdie. Steve three putted for a bogey.

On the second, Dave tried to replicate his opening drive from the first and made an unnatural and over-controlled swing. The ball barely stayed in bounds, coming to rest in deep rough. Steve stepped up to his ball and made his usual swing, an aggressive one without care or concern. Although Steve plays with a fade, he hits the ball deceptively long. His ball found the right side of the fairway.

Dave’s ball was in thick rough. Instead of playing a conservative shot, he went for the green with his hybrid wood. With his mind still concerned about the previous shot, he made another bad swing. The ball went straight left, over the fence and into a neighbour’s swimming pool. After taking his penalty drop, he hacked the ball onto the fairway and then watched Steve make a “fuss free” swing that ended on the front of the green.

Dave managed to eventually get his ball onto the green and made seven. Steve, his mind free of concern from the previous three-putt, safely two-putted for par. He felt good about his game and looked forward to the rest of the round. Dave was not doing so well. Despite making a birdie on the first hole, he was worried about his swing and not sure what to do about it.

Steve was having the round of his life. He parred most holes, had two birdies with the odd bogey on the tougher holes. Poor Dave was having a nightmare game. After losing another ball on the ninth he gave up. He stopped trying and thought about walking in. Steve convinced him to continue and consoled him with the thought that even bad golf was better than going to work …

When they putted out on the 18th Steve has broken 80 for the first time. He had scored a career best 76.

Despite having a horrible front nine Dave had managed to play better for the remainder. With a more relaxed attitude his swing became more powerful and accurate. He hit the par five 16th in two shots for the first time and discovered the elusive “perfect swing” he had been searching for. His last drive travelled over 300 metres, leaving him a short approach shot to the green. He left the green feeling good about his game.

Over a beer at the 19th hole Dave quizzed Steve about his fine form. Dave was certain that Steve had been having lessons or had found the a magic formula. Steve laughed, and told Dave that there were no such things as magical formulas and he hadn’t been seeing a golf pro.

Steve explained that Dave had the necessary talent to play great golf. But by trying so hard and attempting to play perfect shots he made the game more difficult that it needs to be. He went on to say that Dave had inadvertently discovered the perfect mindset for golf over the back nine. He had let go, and stopped trying and was rewarded with the golf shots he had long been searching for.

A light went off in Dave’s head. He realised instantly that he didn’t perform any other activity like he had been playing golf. He drove his car, rode a bike and played tennis instinctively and naturally. Those tasks didn’t cause him any grief or frustration.

Those last nine holes had given him an insight into how good he could be and a chance to rediscover his best form. He had tried everything to improve his play and nothing had worked consistently. It was now time to put trust in himself and forget all those other rules and regulations that had been holding him back.

It was now time to play golf.

OK, so Tiger has done it again. It was an enthralling US Open that was action and drama packed right to the end. Who would have thought it would take 91 holes for Tiger to beat Rocco Mediate, the 157th ranked player in the world?

My hat goes off to Mediate. If my memory serves me correctly the last time I heard from him (before this week) was when he was commentating on the PGA Tour last year. I think he was injured and provided some special comments to assist those regular commentators who have long ago forgotten anything useful and interesting to say.

Anyway, bad luck to Rocco, he certainly provided some entertainment and I hope it’s not the last time we hear from him. If this week’s form is anything to go by the old boy has plenty to offer.

I’ve been asked many times why Tiger is so good and what separates him from the rest. Before I do that I would like to give you my opinion on the areas I think are myths as to why he is the best player in the world.

He is the hardest worker: This one annoys me. I don’t believe Tiger is the hardest worker on tour. Sure, he practices hard but so do most of the tour players. Vijay Singh is renowned for spending hours beating balls. I’m sure there are others too that would give Tiger a run for his money in terms of hours spent practicing. I don’t think Tiger’s work ethic hurts him, but I don’t think it’s the primary reason why he is at number one.

If practicing long hours was the only requirement for achieving success the world be full of people hitting golf balls all day.

He is the fittest (strongest) athlete: Again, Tiger is fit and strong but is he really the fittest? And if so is that the reason he keeps winning? I don’t think so.

This fittest tag gets thrown around by the media from time to time when they run out of things to say. It’s a bit of a cop out if you ask me. The PGA Tour is full of extremely fit and strong athletes. John Daly is definitely the exception. The fitness trailer get far more action than the 19th hole!

Things certainly have changed from a few years ago. I know amateur golfers here in Melbourne that workout each day and have the build of elite football players.

Again, being fit and strong can’t hurt Tiger’s game, but I don’t think it’s the reason why he’s number one. Also it seems Tiger can know win on one leg. I’d bet that Tiger could beat these guys if he was twice the size, with a sizable beer gut.

He wants “it”more than any other player: This line is a complete cop out. You can’t tell me that Rocco Mediate wanted the US Open any less than Tiger. Every player that’s competing out there wants to win and win badly. Tiger likes to win, but his competitive nature is not the reason why he is able to win so often.

So why is Tiger so good?

My strong opinion is that he is the most automatic and natural sportsman in the world.

Tiger plays every round the same way. He has grooved his thought process so that every shot is treated like the one before it. The more pressure he is put under the more instinctively he plays.

Tiger never plays safe! Never.

My definition of playing safe is being careful, using too much conscious control and letting the pressure of any situation change your natural style. It can seem like the right thing to do, but playing safe almost always leads to failure.

Through years of experience Tiger plays each shot like it was his last. Sounds easy to do but it isn’t. I think it’s human nature to be careful and play safe when put under pressure. Tiger has the ability to play without fear or results of the consequences. This I believe is what makes him so special. The average golfer has trouble letting go and trusting himself to hit his opening tee shot - much easier to tighten up and steer the ball down the fairway. This is something that I’ve never seen Tiger do. Every swing, chip and putt is a flowing action that is free of self-doubt or worry.
The ability to do this cannot be underestimated. Not only does it help him play those incredible shots, it allows him to grind out those rounds where things aren’t going so well. To keep swinging freely when you’re not feeling great and the ball keeps missing the target takes more courage than anything golf can throw at you.

If you want to learn from Tiger Woods then take this three round challenge:

Hit every shot with a free flowing swing. Hit the ball (including putts) without fear or concern of where it’s going. Sure, plan the shot and choose the appropriate club, but once you’re over the ball you can’t worry yourself with self-doubt and fear. Let go and enjoy the experience.

This means that if you have a testing three footer for par you have to walk up and stroke it with confidence. Or, if there’s a difficult tee shot with out of bounds down the left you can’t aim at the right trees and play safe. You must aim for the fairway and pull the trigger. It also means that if you hit your first three tee shots into the trees you can’t analyse and start changing your swing and try and get the ball on the fairway. That’s cheating and isn’t in the rules. You have to hit the fourth tee shot with you most natural swing you can muster.

This sounds easy to do but I can tell you it takes some work. It takes courage, trust and a strong will. Make the decision to take the three round challenge and you won’t be disappointed. I’m willing to bet that you’ll learn more about your game (and character) than any lesson you’ve had in the past. And quite possibly you’ll experience your own version of remarkable golf. Surely you don’t think you can play exactly like Tiger Woods do you?

If you lean to adopt this “free from fear” method of playing you can then take better advantage of any fitness gains and competitive spirit that you may possess. You can only get an advantage from these “one percenters” if you can swing (play) without fear.

And finally, I’ve just heard that Tiger is taking the rest of the year off to recover from injury. I’m sure this won’t stop him and he’ll be back next year in the same way that he finished this one. I can’t wait!

Good golfing and good luck. Let me know if you decide to give the challenge a shot.

Cameron

Might not be the standard method of picking the US Open winner this week, but it sure might get the same result.

http://www.majorschampionships.com/2008/microsites/usopen/2008/06/11/process.elimination/index.html

Well done to these guys if you ask me!

If your golf game is getting the better of you and you desperately want to end the frustration, I recommend the following action. Yes, it is full on but it will make a difference.
Throw away ALL technical golf instruction that you have: This means all those books and magazines that you have stored around the house and office. They don’t help and if you rely on them for success you’re in big trouble. Read them for entertainment value but don’t think they’ll improve your game.

Stop having golf lessons and searching for a miracle cure: This is related to the one above. If you’re in a golfing slump and want to get out, the chances are you’ve been having lessons and trying everything you can think of. If you’re still in the slump then obviously this hasn’t worked. So stop it. More lessons and searching won’t help - you’ll only get worse.

Remove those golf clubs that you can’t hit or rarely hit well: If you can’t hit your driver and 3 iron take them out of your golf bag immediately. If you’ve hit them well a couple of times but you’ve been playing golf for years still take them out. Delusional or wishful thinking will not help. Only keep the clubs in your bag that you have confidence in hitting.

If this means that you remove all the woods and long irons then you should do it. You can always put them back in when you sort yourself out.

Stop focusing on your score or handicap: I know this is difficult to do but if you want to start playing better golf you need to put thoughts of results and score to one side. Play a round or two (for starters - and without those hard to hit clubs) and see if you can let go and swing freely. Instead of counting your score, count the number of free flowing swings you can make. When this idea clicks, you’ll unlikely go back to the self obsessed and emotionally evaluated way you’ve been playing.

Spend some time on your chipping: I know you’ve been told this many times, but when you truly understand the importance of the short game you’ll make an effort.

I don’t expect you to spend hours each week. Chipping for a few minutes each week on the carpet or in the backyard will work wonders. Get a favourite club and see if you can chip hit high and low. Close your eyes and repeat. Forget about your technique - thinking too much is boring. Chipping technique is best learned naturally. Focus on hitting the ball gently into the air and allowing it to roll towards the target. Easy - you will work out the minor details yourself.

There. This should allow you to remove the straight jacket and swing the club freely (without fear). You’ll have to change your mindset. It requires that you shift gears - if you don’t you’ll be stuck, unlikely to get out.

The end result? You’ll discover your golf game. You will start to experience confidence and little self-doubt. This leads to mastery. Mastery makes the game fun. When it’s fun, remarkable things start to happen. Remarkable can be off the scale! Better than you would ever think possible. Bad remarkable is way better than good.

To be successful you may need to take a step back and give yourself a chance to learn. Hitting irons from the tee. Laying up when you think you can go for it and generally taking the conservative approach is the price you’ll have to pay. But it’s worth it. Much better than any quick tip or fix.

One last thing. It gives you a golf game for life. Definitely worth aiming for if you ask me.

Playing your best golf doesn’t depend on how expensive your golf clubs, what course you play or how lucky you get. These are “one percenters” that have little or no effect on your score…

You will play your best golf if you learn to manage your nerves and anxiety and play without fear or consequences. The best golfers hit the ball first and worry about the result second.

This is not a quick fix or magic tip. It’s a long term commitment that leads to what I call “remarkable golf”. Remarkable golf is worth talking about. The latest quick fix tip in Golf Digest is not.

Think less and play more. You won’t be disappointed.