I’ve always had weird and wonderful dreams – just ask Mary McKenna, with whom I used to travel to tournaments in my amateur days. She was the recipient of many early morning tales, my tongue tripping over itself as I hurried to recount my dream before it slipped away from me into the ether. Last night I was playing a fourball with Patricia, Dad and long-time friend Alison White who lives in St Andrews and has just retired from a life in golf having worked for the PGA, the LGU and the R&A. Alison had thrown the balls up to determine the sides and she and I were taking on Dad and Patricia but the four of us were already annoyed standing on the first tee. Who was in the group in front of us? None other than Jordan Spieth and we were fizzing at being behind him because he’s so SLOW! There was total acceptance that the world No 2 was there to play ahead of us and simply a strong desire that he wouldn’t inconvenience us by holding us up! What did surprise me a little was when Alison revealed how delighted Rita Ora, (glamorous popstar for the uninformed), who had played earlier in the day, was to meet me! She is a big fan, apparently. Well, of course she is!
A gift from Mary McKenna, desperate for me to write down my dreams in this diary rather than tell her all about them!
Just what is it that our brains get up to? They are surely the last great frontier in, well everything, including sport and golf. And what was going on in Lexi Thompson’s brain last Sunday when, with the title on the line, as well as a clean sweep of prizes and season-ending awards including the world No 1 ranking, she stepped up to a 20-inch putt on the final green. And didn’t even hit the hole.
It’s clearly not a mechanical issue. The answer is surely not to spend even more hours on the putting green honing her stroke. No, it’s much more difficult than that. It’s the successful control of the mind that leads to supreme performance in any walk of life, particularly under pressure. Those of you who, like me, have suffered from the yips, will be familiar with the complete and utter disconnect between the brain’s command and the body’s response and time frames seem to skip a few seconds, so suddenly the ghastly shot is over and there is no awareness of the action as it happens.
I’m not saying Lexi’s putt was a bona fide yip but she has had serious difficulties with her putting, even as a very young player. Countless hours have been spent working on this department of her game with the result that this season she has turned herself into a good putter. And, when you’re as outstanding in other facets of our sport as Lexi is, “good” in the putting department is enough to propel her almost to the very pinnacle of our game. Add pressure into the mix, however, and strange things can, and do, happen. Almost all of you reading this blog would have been able to knock that putt in. You wouldn’t have been able, in all likelihood, to have produced the quality shots that got the ball to that point but you could have knocked the putt in. Not missed the hole.
Seconds before that gut-wrenching miss [LPGA]
Mary Gorry, one of Ireland’s greats, here, front left, team manager for the 2009 European Seniors’ team. [Pat Cashman]
I wish her a dream-free off-season and respite from reliving that awful, final-green moment which may have the power to sweep away all the wonderful successes and achievements of 2017. I think she’s too sensible, too well advised, to let that happen. But you never know.
Sweet dreams, Lexi.
I always enjoy your blog, Maureen. Perhaps Lexi should read the book ‘Be A Player’ which you recommended and which I am enjoying; in particular, the bit about ‘memory box’. Unfortunately it is not so easy to put in to practice!
I remember playing junior golf at Nairn with Alison White and also Sandra Ross. I used to go every year to Nairn on holiday with my parents – what happy memories. Please pass on my best wishes.
It’s a great book for any golfer, that’s for sure, Fiona. I’ve a feeling Lexi will be just fine!