The January 2009 edition of Golf Digest just arrived on my doorstep last week. There is an article about Tiger Woods. (Big surprise…)
Like many people, I love to watch Tiger play golf. When he is in his zone, it seems as though nothing can stop him. It is fascinating to me to watch anyone who is such a master at their craft.
If you play golf, then you are familiar with the common psych-out strategy of saying to your opponent, “Watch out for the water on your left.” This simple comment, given as if it were a helpful suggestion, implants in the mind the one place where you DON’T want your ball to go. So, what happens? That’s exactly where it goes. Plop!
Tiger’s dad taught him a different question to ask himself. “Where do you want the ball to go?” Well, obviously, right down the middle of the fairway. OK, then think about that.
How many times do we psych ourselves out by thinking of what we do NOT want to happen, rather than concentrating on that which we DO? We focus on what we fear rather than on what we desire.
Focus your energies on the path you wish to follow. Envision the ball soaring ahead, landing with a gentle roll on the middle of the fairway.
Water? What water?
