GET TO KNOW THE KID!

There's a new kid on the block. He moved into our minds and hearts during the 81st PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club, and he adds a lot of class to the neighborhood. Watching him we were awed and then reduced to giggles as he scampered, and leapt, gave high-fives and grins; invited each and every one of his to feel his feelings and visit his home of pure exuberance. You couldn't watch him play golf and not feel good about him and this game.

Sergio Garcia, El Nino, at 19 years old is the second youngest player to compete in the PGA Championship, and the youngest runner-up ever in PGA Championship history. And at 19 years old he exhibited, and often described, a formidable mental game as surely as he showed off his considerable prowess, finesse, and courage with a golf club. His "tree shot" on number 16 is historic, a shot for the ages; and underlying it appears to be a mind for the ages as well.

Think about this for a moment. It's Sunday afternoon, the final round of the PGA Championship, you're two shots back of Tiger and playing just ahead of him. Parring number one, you stride to the tee of number two, a gnarly par three with a water carry to a pin cut on the very left-hand edge. You dump it into the water, but go on to salvage a bogey from what could have been a disaster.

Following the tournament when you're asked about that shot, the one that ended in the water, you reply, in your best English as a second language, manner; "Thanks for reminding me because I didn't remember I hit it in the water on the second. When you tell me about the water, I was--which hole I did it? I just forget it after I made the bogey putt, I forgot I hit it in the water."

HE FORGOT HE HIT IT IN THE WATER?!!

Do you ever remember a time at the 19th hole that you or a playing partner FORGOT one that you put into the water? In fact isn't the opposite usually the case? Players bemoaning the lousy shots they've made, the bad breaks they got, the "just missed" opportunities? The focus, the greatest concentration of energy, is put on what went wrong rather than what went right.

Not remembering the shot doesn't mean that Sergio is great at denial, or at blocking out things that are unpleasant to remember, it means that he is great at holding his attention where he wants it, he is great at choosing where he will focus, where he will concentrate his energy.

And you can add this mental skill to your game.

Before your next round decide to practice this skill, decide to keep score of noticing where you are focusing, where you are putting your energy and concentration. Make yourself a score card, leaving enough blank spaces to write down what you notice about your focus, your self-talk, on each shot for every hole. Then notice what you remember after the round is over. Do you tend to remember the ones that got away, or do you remember the great shots? Or both?

The point of this exercise is to just notice what is present, not trying to change anything, just noticing what you do and how you do it. Where is your attention placed? Are there patterns to what happens? Does your focus or self-talk change after a missed shot? After a couple of missed shots in a row? Do the wheels come off? Do you climb on the bogey train? How do you re-tighten the lug nuts? Get off the train?

We can consciously choose only those things of which we are aware. So learn about yourself. Notice as much as you can about what you say, think or do on the course and ask yourself if it takes you toward your goal or if it takes you away from your goal. And know that what works, and doesn't work, will be unique to you.

Through self-awareness you grow in your ability to actively choose your focus, the mental habit that serves the pros and other top players so well.

When that happens you increase the chance that, also like Sergio, you turn dreams into reality, rather than dreams into expectations. Sergio was asked about his eventful year, asked to assess what he was feeling after finishing runner-up in the championship, asked if it surpassed his "expectations."

His response? "I was dreaming about that, not expecting. It was one of my dreams for this year, turn pro--well, first of all play the Masters as an amateur, then turn pro, try to do well, win my first tournament this year and getting on the Ryder Cup Team. But I knew it was difficult, I was very young and--well, there's a lot of great players around there. I've played well some tournaments, but I haven't done anything yet to be, like you said, something --somebody incredible or over some other players. I had four good tournaments, but still a long career to come and that's when I have to prove that I'm something else."

Not the words of someone looking back to where they used to live, rather the words of someone taking stock of their new neighborhood, and dreaming of possibilities; then staying focused and building the home he wants.

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Dr. Paula King, Golf's "Head" Coach®, is a licensed sports psychologist in private practice in Phoenix. Specializing in work with golfers her clients include tour pros, juniors and amateurs. Comments or Questions?