What can we learn from the professionals?
Steven Morgan outlines how you can take something from the Golf Pros' game
Very soon we will be fortunate to see some of the world’s best golfer’s touchdown in the UAE to participate in our flagship events such as the Race to Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Championship. This is an ideal opportunity to see firsthand what makes these players as good as they are and how they go about their trade.
Understandably we will all want to see them wind up the shoulders, drive off on the long par 5 and see the ball skip up to the 320-yard mark. Or indeed see them hit the high 290 yard 3 wood into a slight breeze over water to a back flag on the par 5’s. We will then turn round and think this is the difference between the budding weekend golfer and the world’s best. True?? Actually… I think not!!
If you really want to see what makes them so good try watching their course management techniques. Pay special attention to their attitude and the way in which they hold their composure, even the way they react to a bad shot. Watch their approach play and how close they hit their chip shots and most importantly of all watch how good they are on the greens. By doing the above I guarantee you will be impressed if not surprised. This will mean more to you than watching them hit driver after driver on the range or on the course. Yes, I agree it is more fun but to learn from them we need to focus on what makes the biggest difference.
I often say to people that to improve in golf you need appreciate it that it is improving how bad your bad shots are instead of trying to improve your already good shots. The player who wins the tournament will be the player who makes the fewest mistakes. The player who wins the tournament will be the player who plans their way around the course, scrambles well and holes the most putts.
We are lucky to have this opportunity here in the UAE, the chance to see the newly crowned world number one golfer play his way around a course we can play on at any time. Golfers here in the UAE are surely the envy of others worldwide… something worth remembering after your round.
I wish you a happy golfing month.
Best Wishes
Steven Morgan