The Wyndham Championship took an awkward date on the schedule and again made the Carolinas proud by producing a great tournament in front of an enthusiastic crowd. It was really nice to see Greensboro continue their long tradition of showcasing a top championship.
It was certainly no surprise to see Brandt Snedeker break through for his first PGA TOUR victory, though to see him do it by shooting 63 in the final round was quite impressive. From everything I've ever seen or read about Mr. Snedeker, he seems to be a well rounded young man who has the attitude, talent, and personality to become one of the top players on TOUR for a long time to come.
So what can we learn from watching Brandt's brilliant performance on Sunday? Well for starters, seeing someone shoot a 63 while searching for his first win on TOUR is fun to watch. Can anyone go out and shoot 63? Probably not. But can anyone go out when there is some big pressure to perform and play their best? Absolutely. And that is this week's "A Lesson Learned."
You cannot shoot a 63 or win a PGA TOUR event if your focus is solely on the leaderboard or scorecard. You play your best when you remain "in the present", concentrating on the next shot you have, and are calm, relaxed, and confident.
I tell my students that there is a four-step process they should go through before each shot, and to stay within that process throughout an entire round. Don't think about what scores you need to win or to break 90 or 80 or whatever your goal, think about what needs to be done on the next shot in order to play your best.
The four-step process I suggest is:
Commit to the shot: Study the situation and determine what type of shot you need to hit in order to maximize your chances for success. Be honest with yourself. If the pin is tucked in the far right, a gentle fade might be the best shot - unless you can't usually hit a fade. But think the shot through, and if a high gentle fade is what is needed to hit one close, commit to that shot.
Commit to the club: One of the worst things you can do is be indecisive as you draw your club back on your swing. If you typically hit an 8-iron 140 yards, and you're 142 yards from the pin, you have to believe that the 8-iron is the club for you to hit. Do not try to swing extra hard or alter your swing as you come down on the ball because you all of a sudden wish you had taken a 7-iron. Pick your club and know that's the right club for you.
Commit to the swing: Think back to the last time you hit the perfect fade 8-iron that followed the exact arc and path you need for this shot. Remember the visuals, remember the sensations. Make a practice swing until you can replicate that feeling. That's the swing you need to execute the shot. Now you do it. No doubts. Put that same swing on the ball and you'll succeed.
Commit to your ability: Everyone has been victim to the dreaded double-cross, the shot when you try to compensate for one alteration in the swing by going extreme in the other direction. If you know you can hit the fade, trust your mechanics to execute the shot. Don't try to make a last second adjustment, often that could lead to a wild pull the other way.
Finally, after the four-step process, I usually suggest that my students verbalize their thoughts before the swing.
"I'm going to hit a nice high fade with a eight iron," will put you in the right mindset.
The temperatures were hot at Greensboro this past week, but so was the play of many of the golfers. Obviously, the players didn't get too caught up in tough conditions, they kept their focus on their play - and in particular, their next shot. It's a lesson we can all take to heart. Stay in the present, commit to the shot with confidence, execute like you've done before.
Congratulations Brendt Snedeker for making history by "staying in the present."
Krista Dunton is the Director of Instruction at Berkley Hall in Bluffton, South Carolina. Krista has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her distinguished teaching career including being the 2001 New Jersey section PGA Teacher of the Year and the 2002 LPGA National Teacher of the year. Krista is also the 2006 Carolinas section Teacher of the Year.
