GOLF

Every week, I give it my best effort to pass along what I have learned about golf.

This week, because Wesley performed at The Memorial, the series theme “developing a solid mindset and perspective” on golf fits perfectly.

Your mindset in golf is under your control. There are very few other variables in golf that are, in my opinion, the aspect of the game that should be worked on every day because it’s possible.

The cognitive fundamentals can be explored, practiced and trained every single day. The best part is, the club doesn’t have to be in your hand to improve, either.

No course range or club is necessary to practice this phase of golf.

What is really awesome is this past week, the greatest mind of all-time hosted the PGA Tour at the venue he designed. Everything about this event was completely awesome and, in my opinion, the rest of the golf world should use the Memorial template as their own.

The golf course is spectacular, too. Hard, but fun. Its ‘edge’ is sharp and it cut into Wesley pretty good.

Mr. Nicklaus offers ample room to play fairly wide targets. This design rewards a quality shot and if you get near the “edge”, gamble and miss, it’s extremely penal. No recovery chance.

Wesley tested that ‘edge’, employed an aggressive strategy several times and it cost him dearly. The strategy did not work.

This has been a reoccurring scenario and some who watch could say he’s too aggressive, or he should employ a more conservative approach. From my perspective though, it’s how he plays the game.

I could also add by playing aggressively, it offers an opportunity for accelerated learning. Golf is a game that has many different ‘play options’.

Upon finishing the series on mindset, the next will be on “authenticating your golf style.”

You see, after many years of passionate study, investing much time and resources in golf development, with much data there are certain conclusions I have reached. One is, of all the different players on the PGA Tour, Web.com and even college golf, there are as many different way to play as there are players.

Authenticating your style is a process that can take a while. However, one’s own expression should be ‘discovered or dug up, displayed, polished and displayed’ in practice and play.

There are some common denominators that all the great players have and my Sunday walk with Rod Fowler, Ricky’s Dad validated. All who are great simply find the way that is best for them, then focus on the ideas that truly matter.

Here is one hole that reflects Ricky’s mindset. On the ninth, Ricky went right at the flag with a short iron, but the wind pushed the ball into the water. As he got ready to play his fourth shot, I ask Mr. Fowler what he thought Ricky was thinking about, and simply answered, “hitting the ball into the cup.”

His ability to think clearly about this shot at hand is a result of a great mindset. Factoring into the equation that there will be many missed shots is paramount. There is no time during the round to complain, or pout about variables such as wind or bad bounces that you have no control over, so accept these and move forward.

Many golf pros who struggle in final rounds as Wesley did at the Memorial spend too much time sulking about the bad breaks and bounces and instead focus on the ‘what ifs’, but Wesley moves on. He shot 77 and the equivalent would be about 10 shots higher than his average game on a hard golf course.

A 10-shot variance at this level is significantly greater than at the club level. When he’s playing at home, he is shooting between 60 & 64 every round. He has been playing like this since March and I am not exaggerating. It has not shown up yet on the scorecard on TV Sunday yet, but turbulent days like this past Sunday serve as a springboard set for this to occur. Next week more on mindset, so stay tuned.

•George Bryan Golf Academy is holding a junior camp for ages six to 15 June 25 - 27. There is also a camp for Pee Wee golfers ages 3-6 July 9 - 11. For more information, www.georgebryangolfacademy.com.

•Mid-Carolina Club is holding a junior camp June 16 -19. Visit www.midcarolinaclub.us for more information.

Par Tee Golf Center is also holding a PGA Junior Camp June 25 -27, and Aug. 3-5. Visit parteegolfsc.com for more information.