Flipping through old issues of “Golf Digest,” a player facing the thumbscrews of a Masters Sunday could glean some helpful advice from sports psychologist Bob Rotella.
Doesn’t someone have to find the mental fortitude to come through in the final round and play the role of closer, a role every bit as special as the one Craig Kimbrel carved for himself? (OK, getting through the last three holes of a championship might be a little more harrowing than getting the last three outs against the Marlins).
So, a sprinkling of excerpts today from the good head doctor’s writings for those interested in winning.
“Play to be great. Don’t play not to play poorly.”
Easier visualized than done.
Some of the very players prominent on the hand-turned scoreboards of Augusta National have had recent issues with playing great down the stretch.
At the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, 54-hole leader Bubba Watson was a man who could find water in the desert (his tee shot on 15 found it). Coming to the 72nd hole tied with Kevin Stadler, he had to find rough off the tee, fly the green and then miss a short par-saving putt to finish a stroke behind Son of Walrus.
Coming into the Masters, Matt Kuchar did a Texas Two-Step, both of them backwards.
At the Valero Texas Open, he gave up the lead on the back nine Sunday when he took three quick bogeys, shooting 75 and finishing in a tie for fourth.
He followed that in Houston with another fade, falling into a playoff he would lose by yanking his approach to the 72nd hole into the water and taking a sloppy bogey.
What in the name of happy endings is going on here? Closing rounds on the PGA Tour are becoming as jumbled and confusing as the last episode of “The Sopranos.”
A player will never tell you that he has trouble finishing the deal, an admission of ultimate mental frailty. No more than a car dealer will admit that he can’t put you in that new Mercedes S-Class.
Certainly Kuchar didn’t. He came into Augusta saying he must have been playing well just to put himself in so many spotlight positions at the end. He reminded listeners that he has won a few tournaments in his day, some of them of considerable pedigree, such as the Players Championship and the Memorial (although no majors).
“Just got to keep playing good golf,” he said, stripping the art of closing to its bare bones. It can’t be that simple, or everyone would do it.
He has chosen to look at his two previous tournaments as good omens not bad finishes. “I’m coming in with such good form the last two weeks, hopefully I’ll do a little better this week,” he said.
What does he have to change to make this Sunday more profitable than his past two competitive Sundays? “Nothing,” he said.
Bring on another chance to close, he declared. “I’m excited about my chances to win. It’s going to be one of those unique and special days,” Kuchar said.
“Love the challenge of the day, whatever it may be.”
You may have heard that golf’s recognized best closer is not on the property this week. Tiger Woods made quite the impression by being able take a lead and then put it in a figure-four leg lock on Sunday. Apparently there is not a surplus of Tigers out there.
Where have all the closers gone?
The third-round lead guarantees little to the rank-and-file player. You have less than a coin-flip chance of carrying a Saturday lead to the finish. Third-round leaders have won nine of 20 events this season (45 percent). Since the start of 2013, the percentage remained steady, 26 of 58 (44.8).
When it comes to closing at the Masters, no need to remind anyone here of the extra stress the event places on the final swings.
There can be a high score lying in the azaleas for anyone, no matter how he may seem to be floating along merrily. “We know this course is brilliant at bringing someone back who has made a bunch of birdies, and all of a sudden it throws a triple straight at you. It’s not over until it’s over, for sure,” Henrik Stenson said, channeling his inner Yogi.
Look at Gary Woodland’s example Saturday — he opened with a record 30 on the front side, threatening to go all Al Geiberger on the place. Then he went nine shots higher on the back side, highlighted by a visit to Rae’s Creek on No. 12.
There was no report about him being treated for whiplash at the round’s conclusion.
“Believe fully in yourself so you can play freely.”
Given some of the recent examples, the third-round lead has been devalued. The question then arises: Do you want to be the lead dog or the one chasing him? Could it possibly be easier to let someone else bear the pressure of the lead while you fire away at pins from an ambush position?
Stenson went wire-to-wire at the Tour Championship at East Lake last year and demonstrated the power of seizing the day along with seizing the lead.
“I kind of like the front-running position because I always looked at it like I’ve obviously played well to get in front, and the other guy has to play even better to try to catch me,” he said.
“If you can win from the front, obviously you can focus on your game.”
Then there’s the spirit the leader at the turn Sunday — whoever he may be — would do well to adopt, and hold on dearly to it until the last.
“Find peace on the course.”
Yeah, good luck with that.
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