Valero Texas, Masters Predictions and Situational Performance Inhibitors
Valero Texas Open
If we are to delve into the deeper, darker type of philosophy that examines the meaning of life, then we must be prepared for rather a lot of doom and gloom. There are theories from the likes of Nietzsche and Camus that can seem rather depressing, dismissing human existence as pointless, or even absurd. But even among these introspective musings we can find some interesting reflection on humans creating their own meaning; recognising limitations and strengths and forging a unique path to fulfilment.
An odd way to start a golf blog, you might think, but I consider it relevant to the career of JJ Spaun. The unassuming Californian claimed victory at a rain-soaked Valero Texas Open, flying through the back nine with three birdies and an eagle on his way to a ball-striker's 67. It was highly reminiscent of his victory in the equally sodden US Open last year, where he also saw off a challenge from the plucky Robert MacIntyre and demonstrated the type of mental grit that has come to define his career.
During his musings on life’s meanings, Paul Sartre suggested that we as humans are always ‘becoming’. We are eternally on the move, defined by what we do and will do rather than what we think. In that sense, we find our own meaning by recognising what is important to us and our limitations within that context. JJ Spaun seems to me to embody this type of spirit - before last year he was often thought of as a journeyman pro, battling to keep his card each year and rarely winning tournaments. But Spaun has become masterful at playing to his strengths and executing them with precision. Getting the ball in play off the tee, excellent iron striking and solid putting may not have been present in all his starts this year so far, but when they come together like they did yesterday, he is hard to beat. MacIntyre could only manage a level par 72 to finish one adrift, tied with Michael Kim and Matt Wallace. I’ve heard it said that Spaun’s game could suit Augusta, and if he takes the same mentality into next week then I think it would be foolish to count him out.
The Masters Preview
Among the many squeals of ‘special place’ and ‘traditions like no other’ there is no doubt that the Masters tournament provides a unique mental challenge. Anyone going there for the first time is overloaded with anecdotes about the glass-like greens or the TV not doing justice to the hills, not to mention the weight of history bearing down from all angles. It presents an interesting challenge for returners too, who may have played in the tournament before but revere the place no less. There is no better tournament to focus on process goals, like committing to a tiny target or focusing on tempo. Having a goal to win or shoot a certain score is futile here - there are going to be mistakes, bad breaks and frustrating lip-outs. One bad hole can be mentally scarring and render a score-related goal immediately unachievable.
Although they might not admit it publicly, the best players this week will be trying to operate within their own mental world. That means staying present; philosophy teaches us that there is no past or future, there is only now. In a golf sense, this makes staying present extremely important - you cannot control the last shot or what is to come. Some people create a trigger that signals the end of any emotional reaction to their last shot - the club hitting the bottom of the bag, the caddie taking it from their hand. Then they are super-disciplined in letting it go and focusing only on walking to the ball and taking it from there. This is sometimes called ‘staying in the gap’ where golfers make a conscious effort to notice the beauty of their surroundings on the journey to the next shot. Others practice anchoring - performing a certain physical action that reminds them of a time they were ‘in the zone’ such as taking off the glove or having a certain object in their pocket. There are many ways to say present. Augusta demands that you have one.
Who do I think has the game, both mentally and physically, to win this week? Well, there are a few contenders, not least the obvious ones. But outside McIlroy, DeChambeau and Scheffler, I’m interested in two names this week:
Russell Henley. The quiet, underestimated American is now ranked 10th in the world and has a wonderfully accurate tee to green game. His putting is solid - he’s 18th in strokes gained for this season and hasn’t really produced his best stuff yet. Crucially, Henley is one of the tour’s premier iron players and ranks highly in bogey avoidance, both of which could prove to be useful at Augusta.
Matt Fitzpatrick. A recent win and a strong showing in the Players has seen Fitz rise to 5th in the world golf ranking. Although Augusta is often called a second shot course, in reality it is a short game course and the Englishman is one of the best scramblers on tour. Mentally he is so assured that he finds it easy to call out fellow players (by name) for slow play, and although he shows frustration quite often, it never seems to carry into his next shot. In his 12th Masters, it could be time for him to step up and claim a second major title.
Whoever wins, it is sure to be a strong mental showing. Augusta demands that.
Situational Performance Inhibitors
Recently, a player commented to me that he finds something strange happens when he plays golf with his Dad - something that he doesn’t experience in any other situation, whether it be a tournament or practice. I won’t go into the specifics of this particular case, but what he raises is actually a very common phenomenon where an athlete unconsciously adds something to their mental load. Rather than playing only against the golf course, the presence of a parent (in this case) adds a psychological weight, shifting the focus from process to outcome.
In psychology, this might be called an External Validation Dependency. For example, an elite player for whom parents have made many sacrifices may feel an unconscious need to prove that investment worthwhile. As mentioned above, it may manifest in the shifting of focus from process to outcome - rather than visualising swing tempo or a small target, the player may experience unwanted thoughts like the look on their father’s face if they miss a putt or hit a poor shot. Even if the parent is nothing but supportive, this psychological anomaly can still afflict even the best players.
Another common response to this situation is the actual physiological effects on the golf swing. Needing to prove yourself can trigger a stress response, where the sympathetic nervous system makes an unwanted appearance, in the worst cases causing muscle co-contraction, loss of motor skills and jittery hands. It will always be different from player to player, but these are damaging experiences to somebody operating at the elite level.
Well, what to do? Again, it will vary. Firstly, it is necessary to identify whether the root cause of this situation is something we might call Conditional Self-Esteem. Put simply, this is where performance is tied to a parent’s approval and therefore it moves golf from ‘something I do’ to ‘something I am’. This is a highly destructive mindset and requires a lot of work to dismantle. If a player’s confidence is fluctuating depending on the last hole’s score, the steady mental state we value so highly is almost unattainable. Managing a parent’s expectations throughout a round is also emotionally exhausting and unsustainable, which can lead to all manner of undesirable outcomes.
If this sounds a bit like you, there are things you can do to work towards changing your mindset:
Internal Task Anchoring: this is setting goals that are not score-based. Holding your finish until the ball lands, taking three deep breaths before a shot, committing to the ‘think box/hit box’ method of pre-shot routine - these are all process goals and can help you reframe the pressure you feel.
Venting versus Problem Solving: A literal name for a clever technique. After every unsatisfactory moment, ask yourself “am I venting or am I problem solving?” This can help you manage the way you react in the presence of a parent.
Reframing: Remember that your parent (and other people) are impressed by your processes, not your score. They are impressed with the purity of your strike, the height and spin on your wedges, the rhythmic tempo of your driver swing. They are not necessarily impressed by low scores, which are an occasional by-product of your excellent processes.
Ultimately, it is important to remember that we can never be perfect. Mental performance is different for everyone, but similar in the way that it takes dedication and work to keep sharp, just like your golf swing. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling pressure or having a bad round once in a while. That’s golf. Instead, work on learning how to manage the emotions that come with those things. Always grow, always persevere.
