{"id":2628,"date":"2017-07-13T08:03:58","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T11:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/positivementalimagery.com\/blog\/?p=2628"},"modified":"2017-07-13T08:03:58","modified_gmt":"2017-07-13T11:33:58","slug":"are-you-afraid-of-missing-three-foot-putts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/positivementalimagery.com\/blog\/are-you-afraid-of-missing-three-foot-putts\/","title":{"rendered":"ARE YOU AFRAID OF MISSING THREE-FOOT PUTTS?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexander Victor Schauffele, the rookie PGA Tour player known as Xander Schauffele carded a three-under 67 Sunday, finishing at 14-under par to win the 2017 Greenbrier Classic by one stroke ahead of Robert Streb. The 23-year-old started the final round three shots behind the leader Sebastian Munoz who had led since the first round. On the par-three 18th<\/sup> hole Xander finished strong by hitting his tee shot within three feet of the cup. \u00a0He closed strong and got his first career win by sinking the winning birdie putt.<\/p>\n

Xander had looked at the leaderboard in front of the 17th<\/sup> green and knew where he stood. He said he was \u201cvery nervous\u201d when asked how he had felt just before sinking his final putt. Perhaps his nervousness was caused by thinking he had to sink the putt to win the tournament, or thinking about the $1.28M winner\u2019s prize money, or moving up in the FedExCup standings, or the spots that would be earned in upcoming championships.<\/p>\n

A three-foot putt is probably the easiest stroke in golf. It may be the simplest task in all sports. Golfers make it the most difficult by indecision and by thinking fearful thoughts. There is very little movement of the putter back and forth to go wrong in a 3-foot putt. When a golfer\u2019s mind chatter takes over, that is where golf becomes a \u201cmental game.\u201d Because a short putt is such an easy stroke, you think you are supposed to make it. The fear thought of missing and the resultant public embarrassment is what makes it so difficult.<\/p>\n

It was interesting to listen to the sports announcers in the booth at the Greenbrier describing the action. Because they were detached from the action, they were able to verbalize what Zander needed to be thinking. They said he should be congratulating himself and feeling good about the great shot he had hit close and for the opportunity to make birdie instead of thinking about what the result might mean.<\/p>\n

In a tournament situation you have to train your mind not to think in the future. You have to relax, trust your training and allow your body to Just Do It <\/em>like you have done hundreds of times before. Xander was aware of his anxiety and said, \u201cI felt very nervous late in the round. I just tried to go back to the basics; close my eyes and take some deep breaths.\u201d It worked.<\/p>\n

Keys to overcome nervousness and stay focused on making short putts:<\/p>\n