How Tiger Woods Wins Bay Hill Invitational

Tigers Woods’ Improved Touch

I was at the Bay Hill Invitational this weekend rooting for Ernie Els to qualify for the Masters. I interviewed Ernie many years ago about his thoughts on the psychology of going low when he shot a career low round. What a super nice guy…

Just so happens that Tiger gets his groove back this week and wins the Bay Hill Invitational. Ernie finishes tied for 5th place. Hope Els gets a special invitation to the Masters in a couple weeks as he deserves it.

I know Tiger has been working on his speed control on the greens and actually focusing on good speed, especially after the first round when he had two three putts. And it showed with his results…

“I had really good control of my speed today. As I said yesterday when I was done is that I didn’t really concentrate on my speed as much as I should have; hence, I had two 3 putts yesterday, and that wasn’t going to be the case today. I went out there and really focused on my speed, made sure that I had perfect speed every putt, and consequently, I made some putts,” said Woods. And I don’t think he made any three putts the second day.

If you want to eliminate 3-putts, the fastest way is to work on your speed and touch on the greens.

Last Friday, I was working with a student who has the yips with his putter. We talked about how to make the speed more automatic—one less thing to worry about when you are putting. When you are comfortable with your speed control, it’s easier to free up your putting stroke.

Back to Tiger… I noticed he was doing a lot more lag putting and less charge putting the final three days. The greens were super fast. Obviously lagging is easier to do when you have the 36-hole lead. But I think making too three-putts has held Tiger Back the last few months.

Again on Saturday Woods focused on the right speed with his putting and trying to gauge the speed of each green. When he’s putting well, he’s deadly inside 10 feet.

“I just relied on my lag putting. Just get up there and just lag putt it, because the greens were crusty, and they are all different speeds. That’s the difficult thing about it is that you have to adjust on the greens; every green?? the first six greens were all different speeds. So it was quite a test trying to get the feel right, even when you’re playing conservatively and you put yourself away from the flag,” Woods said after the third round.

With better speed control and touch on the greens you can eliminate 3-putts and also pick better lines. I suggest that you should spend half of your putting practice focusing on speed control and touch.

When you have good touch, it’s easier to swing the putter freely. But unlike Tiger Woods, I want your speed control to come naturally from diligent practice with your touch—you should not have to “force it” or think too much about it when you play.

Related Article: Does Tiger Woods Have the Yips?


Overcome The Yips and Enjoy Golf Again!

Golf Yips

Golfers, do you suffer from:

  • Anxiety, tension and over control of the stroke or swing?
  • Performance anxiety about what others will think?
  • Inability to wing the club freely on the course, despite the fact that you can in practice?

Check out: Breaking the Yips Cycle

Golfers: Learn how to overcome the fear that keeps you stuck in a vicious cycle

Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game edge.

Coaches: Help your team members play with freedom instead of fear or tension.

Breaking The Yips Cycle: How to Putt, Chip, And Pitch Freely and Enjoy Playing Golf Again

What are Golf Psychology Students Saying?

 

“I am so grateful for your insights and experience. My focus is sharp and I feel relaxed but ready to meet whatever challenge comes up. If I make a mistake, I am able to let it go and move on immediately. You have really helped me to get back on track and get things going again.
~Suzanne Strudwick, LPGA Tour

putting-yips-report-web2

Download Our FREE Anti-Yips Putting Drills

Do you spend most of your practice time trapped by stroke or mechanics on the practice green?

Are you unsure how to practice to hep you overcome the putting yips?

Golfers: Learn how to putt with freedom using proven putting drills!

Download our FREE putting report and drills to help you unlock your putting potential today!

What are golfers saying about our putting yips drills?

“I went on to the putting green right after receiving your mail. What a great feeling of freedom. No tense at all, smiling and more consistent than ever before. I have great rounds during the years, but you have taken me to a new level with you tips for the yips. I am very grateful – if you visit Denmark I will invite you out for dinner.”
~Søren Meinertsen, Denmark


Overcome The Yips With Expert Mental Game Coaching!

Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.

You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!

What are our mental coaching students saying?

“I’ve had the yips for 30 years. With the anchor ban, I thought I needed to quit golf. It was frustrating hearing golf experts and commentators state that no amateur was going to quit golf because of the anchoring ban. Obviously, these experts don’t know anything about the yips. I’m so glad I found you. Your drills really helped. It might sound silly, but the biggest thing that helped me is knowing that the yips is mental. It might sound crazy, for someone to have the yips for 30 years, and not know it’s mental. I also believe I know my reason for having the yips, and I see how my insecurities in every day life contributed to the yips. Thank you for your help.”
~Kevin Stankewicz

2 thoughts on “How Tiger Woods Wins Bay Hill Invitational”

  1. Yeah, my friend Patrick, but HOW does speed control work? Study the human brain and body and you’ll see it is basically spatial intentionality plus tempo-rhythm movement timing.

    Reply
    • Hi Jeoff: Let’s not over-complicate the concept of touch and feel in the greens. I don’t focus on the tempo of the stroke, but I’m sure that;s one way to improve it. I think having the correct practice drills and getting clear feedback from your performance is the key to working on touch on the greens. Can you give your version without the psycho-babble?

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Geoff Mangum Cancel reply