It’s Not Over Til It’s Over
One of the questions frequently asked of me by golfers, regardless of playing ability, is how to stay off the bogie train. A common experience is the player who is having a good round, makes a bogie or double bogie, and then proceeds to make three or four more bogies in a row, creating that proverbial “bogie train.” Chris DiMarco found himself on that train in the final round of the Phoenix Open, held January 21-27 at the Tournament Players Club, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Things turned out well for DiMarco, as he was able to get off the train in the nick of time to pull off a one shot win over Kenny Perry. My hunch is DiMarco would prefer to be able to get off the train much more quickly, or never get aboard at all. A closer look at this example shows DiMarco in the lead for much of the final round, making a double bogie on hole number 11, and following suit with bogies on numbers 12, and 13. It was a short but scary ride, he got off the train on number 14, and was lucky that Kenny Perry was unable to pull a birdie out of the hat on number 18 to tie him and force a playoff.
On Saturday, the third round of play, DiMarco was one shot off the lead and gave evidence of his mental toughness when he said: “I’ve gotten to a different comfort level and I feel like I should contend every week. It’s tough to win out here, no doubt about it. There are a lot of good players right now that are playing really good. You know it’s going to be a birdie fest. Somebody’s going to have to shoot 65 or 66 to win the tournament. I tell you, you’ve got to focus on your own game, you can just go out and do what you can do to put yourself in position.”
Asked what was different now that has allowed him to be more confident in his game, DiMarco replied: “Just getting up there enough times. It’s just learning. I mean, it’s just, you have to be there. You have to experience things and when you get there enough, it’s easier. And I’ve been there a lot now. I felt really good last week (Hawaiian Open) coming down the stretch, so I’m really looking forward to [the final round on Sunday]. I’m trying to win tournaments, there’s no doubt about it.”
One of the keys to staying off the bogie train is having a clear intention of what you desire to accomplish during a round of golf, and matching that desire with an honest assessment of your skill level and experience. DiMarco states his intention clearly and knows he is capable and ready to win golf tournaments. He also knows that even playing his best does not insure a win. Somebody may out-play him on any given day. The key is not to give the game away by having your bogie-train ticket punched.
He almost gave it away but was lucky no one out-played him on Sunday. He brought himself back into focus and never gave up. He seemed to know it’s not over until it’s over.
Kenny Perry marveled at DiMarco’s performance even while chasing him down the stretch. “I was so proud of that kid,” Perry said. “He gutted it out. Most guys would have folded up shop after that string of bogies and hitting it in the water on 13. Most guys would not have had enough guts to hang in there.”
Especially in golf, anything can happen as long as there are golf shots remaining to be made. Giving up or giving in, is a sure-fire to get stuck and drive your score higher and higher. The plan? As soon as you notice negative self-talk, or an attitude of throwing in the towel, ask yourself this question: “Is this what I want to say to myself right now?” or “Is this the attitude I want to express right now?” Then answer the question, yes or no? If you answer no: Ask yourself, “What do I want to say or express that would represent the best of who I am?” Then, say that, or behave in that new way, and watch your emotional state change.
DiMarco gave everyone a model of how to jump off the train even while it’s still moving—and Kenny Perry described it when he said: “And then to hit one the best shots of the tournament on 16, [following double, and two bogies on 11, 12, 13] which is one of the toughest holes on tour with all of the people yelling at you—I give that kid a ton of credit. DiMarco put it simply enough: “I’ve always believed in myself.”
That’s the bottom line, that’s what keeps you off, or gets you off the bogie train: Remembering who you are, and knowing that you are good enough.
Dr. Paula King is a licensed sports psychologist in private practice in Phoenix. Specializing in work with golfers, her clients include tour professionals, amateurs, and juniors. Comments or Questions?
Dr. Paula King, Golf’s “Head” Coach®, is a licensed sports psychologist, specializing in golf, based in Phoenix, Arizona, and can be reached at (602) 862-0032. E-mail: paula@drheadcoach.com