Okay, if you’ve made it this far in our series on lessons from major champions, you’re a champion in your own right! Hopefully the six tips over the last two articles have gotten you revved up for a big year ahead.
BUT! We’re not done quite yet!
A Lim Kim, the U.S. Women’s Open Champion, was playing in her first major ever and her first event in the United States against the world’s best at Champions Golf Club in Houston. Talk about pressure! No matter – she won by a shot with three birdies in a row to hoist the trophy!
A month before, Dustin Johnson was looking for his own style of major championship title in the form of a green jacket. At a rare, fall Masters, Dustin entered a stratosphere only some of the best golfers know, winning by five shots at Augusta National and breaking the tournament’s all-time scoring record. It was fun to watch!
So . . . what can we learn from these two outstanding champions?
1) Master the Art of Patience. A Lim Kim’s major championship win didn’t come until a Monday, with weather delaying the final round. Dustin Johnson had been leading in a major plenty of times before, but would he get it done . . . at the Masters? You can imagine how white hot the spotlight was for these two, but their patience never wavered. When you play next, remember – enjoy the shot in front of you, not the one behind or the one coming up. Patience can pay huge dividends. Just ask D.J. and A Lim!
2) Create Confidence in Yourself. We know the moments where we’ve gotten upset, angry, negative and sad on the golf course or during a qualifier – it happens to everyone. The important thing to focus on is having – or creating – a foundation of confidence and self-belief that, no matter how bad things get, you’ll always have in your back pocket. When you have that unwavering confidence, it’s easier to break a scoring record (Dustin Johnson) or go toe-to-toe with the World No. 1 (A Lim Kim). Start small, with little boosts to your confidence at home or in practice. It’ll help big time this year!
3) Remember Your Go-To Shots. To make those three closing birdies to win, A Lim Kim had to make her route as easy as possible at Champion’s Club. Dustin Johnson had to plot his way around Augusta National with a fade (left to right) – the course normally favors a draw (right to left). Yet it wouldn’t have made a whole lot of sense for both A Lim and Dustin to try something brand new, right? When you need a clutch chip, pull out that trusty club. When a drive down the middle is required, go with the shot you know. Pressure makes us think twice about things, but when you have your “go-to” shots in place, it’ll melt away.
