Sunday at the Masters
There are many famous quotes that compare the game of golf to life more generally, not least the immortal summation from Bobby Jones. Whilst in the modern world soundbites like these are generally made into condescending Instagram stories, we should not allow today’s shallowness to detract from the value wrapped in such words. As I watched the contenders make their way around Augusta National on Sunday, I couldn’t help but reflect on the way this golf course consistently gives us such raw, human stories, making us forget the ridiculous money and excess that has infiltrated our game and elevating the golf beyond all other distractions.
If there is anything to take away from this year’s Masters tournament, for me it is the power of resilience. The leaderboard was full of examples of it; Cameron Young was +4 after nine holes on Thursday and was right in the mix at the end. Justin Rose has had repeated heartbreak at this golf course, yet at 45 years old he keeps giving himself a chance, never throwing the towel in. Rory McIlroy made a double bogey early in his round on Sunday, losing the lead at one point. He battled back. Scottie Scheffler was level par, 12 shots adrift, after the first two rounds. He finished second. It is astonishing that these players continue, time and again, to bounce back - it is one of the things that sets them so far apart from their peers. In philosophy, this idea of acceptance is widely explored and in my opinion, most relatably articulated by the stoic thinkers Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.
“everyone faces up more bravely to a thing for which he has long prepared himself, sufferings, even being withstood if they have been trained for in advance.”
By this thinking, it is no surprise that the players in with a shout on Sunday are often the same ones. These are the players that know and understand that things are going to go wrong at some point, a bad shot or a bad break is inevitable in 72 holes of major championship golf. These individuals build this into their preparation. They have strategies for when things get tough and employ them masterfully. Watching the way Justin Rose reacted after two dropped shots at Amen Corner was like a masterclass in acceptance; no blaming, cursing, or even overly negative body language. Just moving on to the next shot. With those stakes? Incredible. Compare that to the infantile and frankly rather pathetic behaviour of Sergio Garcia and ask yourself why one is viewed as a great champion and the other as - well, insert adjective here.
Ultimately, McIlroy took control of the tournament around Amen Corner. The tee shot on the innocent-looking but eternally dangerous 12th hole seemed to be the turning point mentally, and from there on his belief never wavered. Finding the fairway for the first time this week on 13 was duly taken advantage of with a birdie, something that Justin Rose could not manage despite finding that green in two. Cameron Young enjoyed another incredible piece of luck on Sunday before his good fortune ran out, with bogeys on the 6th, 7th and 9th holes being the start of his slide. McIlroy continued the tradition of making the Masters win as difficult as possible for himself, endangering a two shot cushion by flaring his drive on 18 miles right. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one and someone McIlroy would not have fancied facing up to in a playoff, lurked two behind. However, Some good fortune befell the Northern Irishman and he had a clear swing with a short iron, managing to find the greenside bunker and relative confidence that he would get down in three from there.
As a golf psychologist, or mental performance coach as it is more accurately described, it is the absolute resilience that impresses me. The ability to execute shots under the highest pressure imaginable, with the world watching, after a setback. Not just a setback in the immediate sense, but years of setbacks and mental scar tissue that would terrify most people. After the round McIlroy thanked his parents in a way that explains some of his mental strength.
“Mum and Dad, I owe everything to you. You’re the most wonderful parents, and if I can be half the parent to Poppy that you’ve been to me, I know I’ve done a good job.”
This sort of rock-solid foundation cannot be underestimated. Coming from a place of unconditional love and support like this enables an athlete to completely separate ‘golf is what I do’ and ‘golf is what I am’, which is crucial to strong mental performance. The unspoken understanding that golf does not define him - golf is not him - a bad result or an unsuccessful period of time has no bearing whatsoever on him as a human being; that’s powerful. It’s something that lasts, that gets stronger with time. Like everything in sport, it comes back to the human being. Justin Rose will keep coming back. Scottie Scheffler will keep fighting when he’s 12 shots behind. And once they’re done playing, it’s reflected upon as a good experience and one from which they can learn and grow. Meanwhile, their worth as a human being is completely, utterly, totally separate.
Congratulations, Rory. What a week.
