It’s not always who has the most skill. Tactics, strategy, mental planning and execution usually make the difference! Listen to Webb Simpson talk about his approaches to Sunday’s Round 4 at the Player’s Championship in his interview with the Golf Channel.
https://www.golfchannel.com/video/simpson-tigers-roars-are-bit-louder-everyone-elses/
- “I didn’t look at any leaderboards until I felt like I needed to.” Control the controllables: Focus your energy on what you can do to perform at your best, not what external factors may disrupt your performances. Webb eventually did look at the scoreboard because it impacted his TACTICS and strategy. Being able to focus productively with this information is the key. You must use it to inform your tactics, not shift your thinking to the outcome (good or bad), catastrophize, or take your focus away from what you have to do in the moment.
- “We chatted about something other than golf.” Attention control: When your sport has natural breaks between performances, such as baseball, tennis, and golf, you should have strategies to handle these times with maximum effectiveness. Webb gave himself a mental and physical break by talking about something external, not about golf! What must happen is shifting that focus back to the present task at hand when it is appropriate. He already knew, like David Duval, that he wanted to be decisive and 100% committed to the next shot when the time came. Therefore, knowing how to navigate your own sport is half the battle to reaching your true potential.
Are you doing things between performances to maximize your potential, or are you squandering energy and time?
-TK