Jason Day’s Tournament Win
How do you play golf when you don’t have your A-game? As Tiger used to say, “I didn’t have my A game, but I was able to get it done.”
Jason Day, winner of the 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational talked about how he didn’t feel confident over ANY shots on Sunday…
But he was able to win the tournaments without his A game…
DAY: “I didn’t feel comfortable over any shot out there today. It was really, really difficult for me to feel any sort of, you know, comfort out there to — obviously it showed early in my round with, you know, bogey on 3, 4 and then 6 as well and bogeying the two par-5s was really bad, but I just said to myself I got to be patient.”
He then went on to Birdie 17 and par 18 with an incredible bunker shot from above the green. He stayed patient, calm, and focused to finish out the round with a great short game.
Day’s strength was his short game and an occasional great shot (think 17) on Sunday…
Even when you don’t have your “A” game, it’s important to remember all the practice you’ve had and find a way to get the ball in the hole.
Easier said than done for sure, but staying composed is a key ingredient to helping you grind out the round.
Grinding out the round helps you finish strong – even when the ball is not going to your targets. Do your remember when Brad Faxon would win tournaments hitting it sideways?
DAY: “It’s great to win this tournament the way I did, but winning this tournament and going forward will help me with my career and future tournaments to come just in the way how I stayed patient and aggressive and hit the clutch shots and it’s kind of a rollover from what I did the second half of last year and that experience that I had last year kind of popped in today and got the job done.”
Everyone has off days or does not feel comfortable standing over the ball, but to play your best, you must stay relaxed, remain focused on the next shot, and trust in strengths that day.
Tips for Grinding Out the Round with Your B Game:
- Focus forward on the next hole without dwelling on the last bogey.
- Embrace the challenge of using your short game to get the ball up and down.
- Avoiding adopting the mindset: “It’s just not my day today.” This will kill the ability to grind out the round.
Golfer’s Mental Edge
What’s the big sign that your mental game is the weak link in your golf game? When you can’t play consistently as well as when you play a practice or casual round–or your range game is way better than your game on the course. If you suffer from lack of focus, low self-confidence, poor composure or other mental game obstacles on the course, you can’t reach your true potential in golf.
The Golfer’s Mental Edge 2.0 Audio and Workbook program is ideal for any amateur, collegiate, junior, and tour professional golfer.
Golf coaches and instructors would also be wise to teach “The Golfer’s Mental Edge 2.0” principles to their players. This program is perfect for any golfer who wants to improve performance and consistency by managing their mind better on the course.