Staying present and focusing on the shot at a time
It’s the oldest cliche going around, but the only way to truly play your best golf is to play one shot at a time. This may seem easy, but it’s extremely difficult to stay in the moment and not dwell on shots that didn’t go to plan in the past or get ahead of yourself when playing well.
Even the best players in the world can struggle with this. In the recent US Masters Tournament, both Cameron Young and Justin Rose found themselves playing exceptionally well when they were both a couple of shots off the lead, however when each of them got into the lead during the final round, they both started to play some poor shots and fell back down the leader board.
One can only imagine there was a shift in their mental state. Thoughts that this could be their day most likely entered their minds at a time when they needed to stay completely in the present and continue focusing on one shot at a time instead of their position on the leaderboard. If one of them was able to stay more present, they may have been wearing the green jacket at the end of the tournament.
So what can we learn from this that can help us at Club or Social Golf level?
The only way to play your best golf on any given day is to fully commit to playing each and every shot to the best of your ability and not think about your score. You need to focus on your routines each shot and make sure you keep relaxed with your breathing. Forget about your score which can be added up at the end of the round.
Always staying present and focusing on processes instead of results is always going to give you the best outcome.
