I believe there is more to learn from Tiger’s worst round of his professional career than any of his major victories. I’m aiming to break 80, and I believe it is all about confidence and attitude. Even if your goal is breaking 90 and you’re shooting in the 90’s, what will get those last few shots out of your game is confidence.
Nick Faldo believes the problem with Tiger is “lack of self-belief”, as he discussed Tiger’s 85 yesterday during the coverage at the memorial tournament in Ohio.
The Dalai Lama is talking about life, not golf, but your outlook has a similar impact for both.
“According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of ones own potential.”
Look at Tiger’s 18th hole in the 3rd round. Two shots and one penalty stroke, then two short pitch shots, a sand shot, and 2 putts for an 8. Nobody will say Tiger does not know how to pitch the ball. Nobody will tell you Tiger has a poor short game. It looks like he has lost confidence and has allowed doubt and fear into his mind. Ten years ago, pre-tournament talk from Tiger was how he planned to win. Now he can be heard discussing making the cut.
His 4th round started out ok, but ended with a decidedly uncharacteristic finish.
4th Round, back 9, had he used the 80BREAKR™ iPhone app
Dr. Bob Rotella spends a lot of time discussing attitude and confidence in his book The Unstoppable Golfer and his older book Golf is a Game of Confidence.
In Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentis, a slightly different perspective but the same theme. “The nagging worries that all is not right, that something bad is going to happen, that you might fail…” It’s easy to fall into that trap, feeling like you’re playing “too good” with hope and fear, not confidence. That happened to me a couple weeks ago, 1 over par after 7 holes, then a triple bogey.
It’s not about eliminating every bad shot; even pros have a bad shot. It was not one bad shot that caused Tiger’s 85, and it’s not one bad shot that will block me from breaking 80, nor is it one bad shot that will keep you from your own personal scoring goal. It’s a lack of confidence and self-belief for several shots or a couple of holes that is the problem.