The Daily Drive Podcast: Recent Episodes
Imagine Golf
Jack Nicklaus said, “The game of golf is 90% mental.” Imagine Golf is the #1 app for your mental game. These short, snackable lessons are helping thousands of golfers think better, play better, score lower, and have more fun doing it.
Welcome back to Day 7 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. Mike says, “Perspective is incredibly important. Golfers can be overcome by Golf. But you have no business feeling sorry for yourself or being mad at yourself. It’s just a game. Don't let it own you.” Today, he shares a story to help drive that story home…
Welcome back to Day 6 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. Mike says, “When they get down to the wire, great players stay in the present. Their focus is on what they're doing. They’re not worrying about what happens if I miss this shot or what happens if I hit this ball in the water and lose the tournament. That's result-oriented thinking. You've got to find a way to stay in process-oriented thinking.” Today, Mike shows us an easy way to do this—and it only takes one word…
Welcome back to Day 5 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. Mike says, “On tour, I was struggling with all that's involved with that level of competition. So I called Masters champion, Jackie Burke, for a putting lesson. And what he told me was the most important golf lesson anybody's ever given me.” Today, Mike shares Jackie’s lesson which can transform your mindset on the green…
Welcome back to Day 4 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. Mike says, “The most important thing is to catch yourself getting out of the moment. Thinking about not messing up. Thinking about results. That's when the choking can happen.” He offers a simple, proven way to bring ourselves back to the moment…
Welcome back to Day 3 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. Today Mike shares a Native American proverb about focus. Focus isn’t just attention to the target. It’s also ignoring all that’s around that target. “If you're on the golf course,” Mike says, “and you're playing a 200-yard par three surrounded by water, forget about the water and focus on the target.” The first step in this process is to take responsibility for every shot you hit…
Welcome back to Day 2 with player, teacher and author, Mike Booker. “Studies show that in self-talk,” Mike says, “we tend to refer to ourselves in the third person. You're a terrible putter. You're a choker. Negative things that you wouldn't say to your worst enemy. That has a negative impact on our self-worth, our self-image, and our performance.” But the good news is, positive self-talk also works...
This week, we’re excited to have player, teacher and author, Mike Booker, show us how to develop a winning tournament mindset. Mike says, “When something bad happens on the golf course—a shot goes underwater or you’re under pressure in a tournament—embrace it. Embrace the suck…”
Welcome back to Day 7 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says, “I have a Rocky poster downstairs. It says, ‘His life was a million to one shot.’ I use those movies to help me. The fighting, the workouts, the montage, the music. I still use it. I like the challenge. I always enjoyed that part of golf. You can make excuses. But there’s no one to blame but you…”
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says, “Bad habits can only be Gone if you want to get rid of the habit. If I have a bad habit in my golf swing, I want it gone yesterday. And I don’t want it to ever come back. And that’s the same with the alcohol.” Listen to Rocco’s honest account of how he got his life (and his game) back on track...
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says, “There are good nerves and bad nerves. The good ones, you know you’re playing well. Like Monday's U.S. Open playoff with Tiger. People ask, ‘How did you look like you were having so much fun?’ Because I was.” Listen to Rocco explain how to use good nerves to play better...
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says,“If you come out and expect to get more out of the game than you put into it, you’re going to lose. It’s not going to be any fun. Give the game some respect.” Listen to Rocco’s thoughts on practice, the short game, and setting realistic expectations...
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says, “I played in the U.S. Open against Tiger. Could Tiger stop me from doing what I was going to do? No. Only I could do that.” Before the playoff, Rocco had just one goal—and it’s probably not the goal you expect…
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate. Rocco says, “I’m playing at Jack’s tournament, the Memorial. It’s Saturday. Pin’s front left. 12th hole, only 140 yards. I say to my caddie, Pete Bender, ‘What do you like here, Pete? A little 8-iron?’ And Pete says, ‘If there was no water, what would you hit?’” Rocco explains why that question can change your club selection—and your score...
Welcome back to Imagine Golf’s Daily Drive, a daily 3-minute bridge between where we are now and where we want to be, both on and off the golf course. This week, we’ve invited U.S. Open legend Rocco Mediate to share his straight-talking insights on how to play the best golf of your life. Today Rocco offers his unique take on the mental game…
Today, we’ll explore the psychology of framing. “Framing,” Dr. Gio says, “is the ability of successful people to look at situations in a positive light—in a manner that gives them a competitive edge.” That’s exactly what David Toms did at the 2001 PGA Championship...
“Think about it,” he says. “When golfers have equal ability, those with more confidence set higher goals and expect more from themselves.” Here’s how to raise your expectations, increase your confidence, and lower your score.
“Bounce back” tracks how many times you follow a bad hole with a good hole. It’s a measure of resilience. Here’s how you can lower your score faster by tracking your bounce back stats.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series on “Fearless Golf” by Dr. Gio Valiante. Last time, we talked about “Exclusive focus.” Dr. Gio applies the Japanese philosophy of “kaizen” to golf, showing how small changes can lead to big improvements.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series on “Fearless Golf” by Dr. Gio Valiante. Today, Dr. Gio uses a great story and one thin dime to teach you how to be “exclusively focused” on each shot.
Welcome to the Daily Drive. Each week, we spotlight a new book that can help you think better and play better. This week we’re reading “Fearless Golf” by Dr. Gio Valiante. Today, Dr. Gio leads you through a simple exercise that can stop the doubts that get in the way of your best game.
It’s Day 7 in our series on the book, “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. What if there was one slot of time—just thirty minutes or an hour—where you could be extra productive at the driving range? Today, Davis shows us when to practice, what to practice, and how to practice to get the most of our precious time.
It’s Day 6 in our series on the book, “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. Is more practice always better for your game? Today, we’ll discover why less practice—or even no practice—can actually be better for some golfers.
It’s Day 5 in our series on the book, “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. “A very common mistake when putting,” Davis writes, “is to strike the top half of the ball on a descending blow, creating a bumpy roll.” Here’s a simple drill to cure that problem.
It’s Day 4 in our series on the book, “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. Davis’s dad studied Tom Watson in his prime. He distilled Watson’s putting method down to just five steps. Follow this simple routine and you’ll start making more putts.
It’s Day 3 in our series on the book, “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. At Imagine Golf, we love talking about course management. But according to Davis, sometimes less course management can lead to better scores. Here’s how.
It’s Day 2 in our series on “Every Shot I Take” by Davis Love III. Davis says, “You have to forget the bad things or you’ll be doomed to repeat them.” Today he shares his two-step strategy for letting go of mistakes and turning weakness into strength.
This week, we begin a new 7-part series based on the book “Every Shot I Take” by Hall-of-Famer, Davis Love III. Today, Davis shares how learning to cope with the tragic loss of his father led him back to the heart of the game.
If you think about how to execute the movements of an acquired skill, such as putting, you’re likely to become incapable of effectively performing it. Today, we’ll discuss how to get out of your own way on the putting green.
Billy Casper won over 50 times on tour. When we refer to the Big Three as Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus, they say it was really the Big Four. Casper wasn’t long off the tee, but he made up for it on the green. Today, he offers a stroke-saving tip on judging distance.
The time to begin reading a green is when you’re approaching it from the fairway. The slope is determined in part by the general lay of the land. You can best see the green in this perspective from a distance. Today, Johnny Miller turns this tip into a helpful visualization.
With Instinct Putting, when we stroke the putt, we look at the hole instead of the ball. That makes sense for straight putts. But what about breaking putts? If you look at the hole, and hit the ball to that spot, you’ll miss. Here’s how to solve that problem.
When you perform at the most instinctive level, you don’t consciously think about how to make things happen. You simply allow your body to do what it knows how to do. This is called “athletic intuition” and you don’t need to be a pro to develop it.
When you putt looking at a target, your brain is directly influenced by a continuous flow of visual information. This includes important factors such as where the hole is located, whether you’re putting uphill or downhill, and the speed and break of the green. Here’s how to test this theory on the practice green.
This week, we begin a 7-part series based on the book Instinct Putting Revisited by Dr. Bob Christina, Dr. Cary Heath, and PGA Master Professional Eric Alpenfels. Instinct Putting is based on the idea that visual input is stronger than memory. When you look at the hole, there’s a visual link between what you see and what you want to do. When you look down at the ball, you break that link.
Do you have a pre-round plan that helps you play your best? Annika says, “I follow a strict warm-up routine. After some putting and chipping, I head for the range. Then it’s back to the practice green.” Here’s how to create a warm-up routine of your own.
Most pros play a few practice rounds before a tournament, taking notes as they go. Annika has a different approach. She says, “I walk each hole backward, from the green to the tee.” Turns out, that strategy can help us score lower too.
Annika says, “I was a mediocre junior golfer. By 15, I was shooting in the mid to high 90s. No one would have said I was going places.” Then one rainy day on the range, her dad offered six words of advice that changed everything.
“To score low,” Annika writes, “you must conserve your energy and your focus for all 18 holes. One way to stay sharp is to go on a vacation between shots.” Psychologists call this “the incubation effect” and today we’ll learn how to use it.
In 2003, Annika decided to do something no LPGA player had done since 1945: compete in a PGA tournament. She was so nervous on the first tee, her hands were shaking. Annika shows us how to manage our anxiety under pressure.
As a junior golfer, Annika was so shy she’d lose on purpose just to avoid attention. When she got to college, she feared she wasn’t good enough to turn pro. Today, she shares the story that helped her overcome a lifetime of doubt and fear.
This week, we’re launching a new 7-part series based on the book, Golf Annika’s Way, by Annika Sorenstam. Annika says, “If you catch me on the practice range, you’ll see me hitting balls with a club lying on the ground in front of my toes, pointing toward the target.” She’s checking her alignment. How basic can you get? But that’s the point. Annika practices like a beginner to play like a pro.
It’s hard to stay positive on the golf course. But negative self-talk is like shooting yourself in the foot—on purpose. Instead of trying to stop the self-talk (which is almost impossible), here’s how to manage it by simply changing the tone of your voice.
A post-round review is one of the most effective ways to improve. If you skip this step, you’ll miss out on the nuggets of gold that only your own experiences can give you. So today, let’s learn a simple post-round strategy that can speed up your progress.
Has golf become too ego-driven? When our self-worth depends on the outcome of a shot, we’re walking an emotional tightrope. Today, we’ll hit some drives into the ocean to remind ourselves that golf is what we do, not who we are.
Yesterday, we talked about the shot selection magic of Seve Ballesteros. Where does visualization fit into that process? Today, we’ll learn Seve’s two-step process that can help you see and choose the best shot every time.
Do you ever feel like you’re throwing away scoring opportunities? According to our experts, the real problem isn’t your ability to hit the shot—it’s your ability to select the right shot in the first place. Here’s how to improve your decision-making skills.
We all want to hit more fairways. But our fairway focus might be causing us to miss our best scoring opportunities. Think about it: even pros only hit 10 to 11 fairways per round. Here’s how to change your priority from “fairways” to “scoring.”
Why does focusing on your score often produce the worst results? Part of the problem is due to “perceived control.” It’s the difference between being a passenger in a plane and driving a car—and understanding this concept can change your game.
If you’re serious about lowering your handicap, you have to put in the hours on the driving range. But according to the research, knowing when to stop practicing might be even more important. Today, we’ll learn two “stop signs” from Jack Nicklaus.
Did you know that the type of practice can impact your confidence and score more than the amount of practice? That’s because most of us practice to develop or maintain a skill rather than practicing to transfer those skills directly to the golf course.
Many of us burn a lot of strokes three-putting more often than we should. Part of the problem is technical. Reading greens is hard. But part of it is mental. The research reveals a surprising cause of that problem—and an effective solution.
Greenside bunkers add strokes to our score. But most of the problem is psychological. Bunkers create fear and doubt, which directly affects our swing. Today, we’ll learn one simple drill that can help us overcome our bunkerphobia for good.
At the start of the week, we learned that changing targets is one of the fastest ways to lower your score. But understanding yardage may have an even bigger impact. It all comes down to understanding the “distance bracket” for each club.
“Aim small, miss small” is one of golf’s most trusted concepts. Pros swear by it. But does it really work for the rest of us? Today, we’ll look at some research that might change your mind—and save you a lot of stress and a few strokes as well.
Is it better to aim at a distant target, like the flag or a spot in the fairway—or is it more effective to aim at an intermediate target a few feet in front of the ball? Dr. Bob Christina and PGA Master Teacher Eric Alpenfels help us zero in on the answer.
Michelle Wie was hailed as the next Tiger. Those expectations, combined with injuries, almost derailed her career. Today, we’ll learn the mantra that helped her (and can help us) get back to playing our best: “Don’t fight it. Embrace it.”
What is mental toughness? According to many champions, it’s not just about resilience. It’s also about getting aggressive when you need to. Se Ri Pak learned this lesson the hard way—and her mantra reflects that toughness: “Attack the course.”
Have you ever lost your passion for golf? You’re not playing well, you practice less, and then play worse. Today, Nancy Lopez shares two simple words from her father that helped her break that vicious cycle: “Play happy.”
It’s instructive to hear the mantras that champions used when they were amateurs like us. Today, we’ll learn how a rookie named Annika Sorenstam cut a familiar mantra down until there was nothing in her mind but “Fairways-greens.”
In only 14 years on the LPGA tour, Mickey Wright won 82 tournaments, including 13 majors. Today, we’ll learn a tee shot mantra she used to find more fairways, especially under pressure. And all it takes is three words: “Make it disappear.”
Having clear goals can keep us motivated. Today, we’ll see how Babe Didrikson, the first superstar of women’s golf, turned her goal into a mantra on the range and the course: “My goal is to be the greatest athlete who ever lived.”
We think of the mental game as a relatively new phenomenon. But today, we’ll go back over 60 years to learn a powerful mantra from one of the best of all time, Patty Berg: “I think within myself, swing within myself, and play within myself."
Have you ever heard of putting at “cup speed?” Neither had Tiger. When his coach introduced him to the technique, Tiger struggled to adapt. But like Tiger, if we stick with it and learn this simple technique, it can help us make a lot more putts.
Golfers love technology. So does Tiger. “But,” he wonders, “how would Ben Hogan have fared if he had access to our technology?” Is there a downside? So today, Tiger sets us straight on the most important technology of all.
Everyone said Tiger was too inexperienced to win the 1997 Masters. But Jack Nicklaus knew different. He shows us how to overcome self-doubt and negative thinking with a little attitude and a refrigerator magnet.
Should you make a conservative game plan even if you’re more of a go-for-it kind of golfer? That depends, says Tiger. Do you want to have fun—or win? Here’s the game plan Tiger learned from Nick Faldo which helped him earn his first green jacket.
Pros and coaches agree: you have to visualize where you want the ball to go. But what if you’re no good at visualization? That’s OK. Neither is Tiger. After one of the worst starts in Masters’ history, here’s how Tiger “felt” his way to the win.
Before the 1997 Masters, Tiger wasn’t thinking, “I’m going to win.” He was thinking, “I’ve got a lot to learn.” He got tips from Seve Ballesteros and Fred Couples. But the best lessons came from an old brick building called the Sand Hill Grill.
We think of Tiger as a born champion. But there are many stages between where we are and where we want to be. And according to Tiger, he began each stage... by losing. Here’s how Tiger’s perspective on losing can help you win more.
This is Day 7 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. What do you do when you’re competing against a player who is clearly better than you? Nick faced that situation twice when he competed head-to-head against Tiger Woods. Here’s how he won both times.
This is Day 6 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. Professional golfers should be called “professional adapters.” Every week on tour, they go to a different golf course and adapt to different conditions. Here’s how adaptability can help you score lower, even if you play the same course every week.
This is Day 5 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. The real key to good golf is playing to your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses. So it’s not just about course management. It’s about self-management.
This is Day 4 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. If you’re standing on the tee, and all you’re thinking about is hitting the fairway, then sure, your good shot is going to hit the fairway. But your bad shot won’t. Whereas, if you aim at something very, very small, that narrows your focus. Aim small, miss small.
This is Day 3 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. When you go to the driving range, it’s important to have a goal. How can you be better at the end of this session than when you started? Today, Nick shows you how to structure your practice time more efficiently to get better results.
This is Day 2 with PGA champion, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. Today Nick talks about the most common goal of amateur golfers: to become more consistent. The secret? Developing a more consistent pre-shot routine. Nick makes it easy. Just follow his two-part routine.
This week, we begin a 7-part conversation with former PGA Tour player, coach and author, Nick O’Hern. Nick says that golf is the most mental sport because there’s nothing to react to. The ball just sits there, waiting. That gives you lots of time to think. How you manage that time makes all the difference.
Welcome back to Day 7 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. Michael Rosenberg takes us to the 2019 Masters. Tiger was 43 years old. Age and multiple surgeries put limitations on what he could do. So Tiger changed how he prepared and how he practiced—which is a lesson you can apply directly to your game.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. As Michael Bamberger explains in today’s story, we can learn a lot about strategy by watching how champions think their way through a major tournament. Apply today’s story to your game and you could drop your handicap a couple of strokes faster than you think.
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. We’ve seen a few ways that Tiger managed stress at the Masters. In today’s story, Alan Shipnuck shows us how Tiger fueled his best performance when his tank was empty. Shipnuck writes, “By 2005, Tiger was in a 0-for-10 drought in major championships.” In a few months, he would turn 30. Here’s how he turned it around—and how we can revive our own games.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. Do you choose your mindset? In today’s story from Richard Hoffer, we’ll see how Tiger chose an unexpectedly detached for the 2001 Masters. Here’s how we can do the same and, in the process, relieve the pressure that gets in the way of our best performance.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. Whether you’re playing in a tournament or a weekend scramble, you’re still competing. Today, we’ll hear a story from Rick Reilly about dealing with pressure and recovering from a bad start—just like Tiger did at the 1997 Masters.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. We know practice is important. But we often resist putting in the time. Today, we’ll hear a story from Rick Reilly that can change our perspective. It starts with Wayne Gretzky, ends with Tiger Woods, and is connected by a love of practice.
This week, launch a new 7-day series based on the book Tiger Woods: Celebrating 25 Years on the PGA Tour by the editors of Sports Illustrated. Sometimes, we all roll our eyes when we hear about the mental game. But in today’s story from Rick Reilly, we’ll trace the impact that attitude, affirmations, and a positive mindset had on Tiger’s development as a player. Reilly takes us back to 1981 when Tiger was six-years-old…
Welcome back to Day 7 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “As you improve, you’ll encounter new challenges. One of them is the problem of perfection.” Sure, we all know that perfection is impossible. And yet, we’ve all hit a perfect shot. It happens enough that some of us develop what Doc calls a Perfection Paradox which can cause serious damage to our game.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “There are going to be moments, sometimes whole days, when you hit the ball sideways. What’s important is not so much what happened. It’s how you perceive what happened.” Today, we’ll learn how to change our perceptions with Doc’s “Review Interview.”
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “The golf world is full of commentators. They exist at the professional level. They exist at your local course.” These external commentators are the last thing you need in your head. Today, Doc shows you how to replace those voices with something more productive.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “The first step in changing your subconscious self-image is monitoring your thoughts. And the best way to do that is in writing.” He’s not talking about a regular journal. He’s talking about reprogramming your subconscious computer.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “The thoughts we have about ourselves as golfers affect our golfing self-image. These thoughts stay in the conscious brain for a while, then are absorbed by the subconscious.” And unless we’re aware of what’s happening, those intangible subconscious thoughts have a very tangible impact on our swing.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “Your 15th club is confidence, the expectation that you’ll hit the ball where you want it to go. It’s a feeling you can call on in any situation, no matter how stressful.” Today, we’ll learn how to choose confidence.
This week, launch a new 7-day series based on the book Your 15th Club by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc says, “I may have given the impression that mastering the mental game was like riding a bike, something you could learn and then always be able to do. It’s not.” To keep your body in shape, you have to exercise. The same rule applies to your mental game.
Welcome back to Day 7 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” Think about the times you’ve struggled on the golf course. Sometimes one bad hole can unravel an entire round. Your confidence, joy, and score go out the window. But we have the power to reframe hard times. That’s what Lydia’s Comeback Mindset is all about. Here’s how you can do the same.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” When it came to bad swings, bad shots, and bad bounces, Lydia had the shortest memory in golf. That’s an asset in golf we all need to develop. Today, we’ll see how Lydia forgot the negative, focused on the positive, and moved on with confidence and focus.
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” We saw how Lydia chose to be patient and trust the process. That sounds great. But it’s never that easy. So what do you, I, and Lydia do when the doubts keep coming? Today, we’ll learn how to throw negative thoughts away—literally.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” In our last lesson, we saw how Lydia made positive changes to her game. Today, we’ll talk about the hardest part of change—waiting for the results—and we’ll use the famous Marshmallow Test to drive the point home in a fun way.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” Do you recall a time when your game felt solid? Like you almost solved the puzzle of golf. Then... it just fell apart. That’s exactly what happened to Lydia. After struggling for over a year, here’s how she got back on track—and how you can do the same.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” In her first two years on tour, Lydia won eight times. But it seems that she won more by thinking less about winning. Today, we’ll look at the Domino Effect and discover how that mindset can help us be more successful too.
This week, we draw our inspiration from the LPGA and launch a new 7-day series, “Lydia Ko and the Path to Greatness.” Lydia used a simple checkpoint on the golf course. It’s based on the 1-in-60 Rule and only takes a few seconds, but it can save you a few strokes—and a lot of frustration.
Welcome back to Day 7 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. Tom stood on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead. Playing safe would have created hesitation. Playing bold would have pushed his swing. Tom was too smart to fall for either mistake. Here’s a strategy you can use to make smarter decisions under pressure.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. Have you ever doubted your ability to play as well as you once played? Today, we’ll see how Tom Watson (with a little help from Slammin’ Sammy Snead) put his doubts to bed on the night before the biggest round of his life.
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus gave us one of the game’s great rivalries. But when the British Open was at Turnberry, they didn’t just compete during the day. They went out again at night, when no one was watching, and played a very different kind of match.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. A good game plan guides our thinking. But what about our emotions? That requires something extra. Today, we’ll learn how Tom Watson used just 8 words as a defense against negative emotions—words that helped him recover from any situation.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. Pros talk metaphorically about the golf gods, and how the gods might send you luck or trouble. According to Watson, how you respond will influence your performance and score. Here’s how to stay right with the gods of the game.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series based on the book “Four Days in July” by Jim Huber. Tom Watson was 59 years old at the 2009 British Open, competing with world champions half his age. But Tom had a Time Traveler’s Strategy: he used all his maturity to play each shot, then he allowed himself to grow young in-between. Here’s how you can do the same.
This week, we reach deep into our archives on the mental game and begin a new 7-day series based on the book “Four Days in July: Tom Watson, the 2009 Open Championship, and a Tournament for the Ages” by Jim Huber. What’s the best golf advice you ever received? Today, we’ll hear the advice from Byron Nelson that helped Tom become a champion—and can help you reach the next level in your game.
Welcome back to the last day in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. This is going to sound odd, but according to Jack Nicklaus, some of us don’t want to win—and our subconscious knows it. So today, let’s do a little soul searching and make a commitment to fulfilling our potential on the golf course.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. In every area of life, including golf, we would perform better if we could strengthen our focus. Jack Nicklaus was a master at it. But focus is like a muscle: Jack had to work at it. Here’s a simple exercise to start building your focus muscles.
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. We think of Jack Nicklaus as a man who lived a charmed life. But that’s a fairy tale. Like all of us, his life was full of adversity. When we’re struggling, we could do a lot worse than adopt Jack’s “fork-in-the-road mindset.” Let’s take a closer look.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. We all know that preparation is important in golf. But Jack Nicklaus offers a pre-round tip we’ve never heard before—and it really did help him win more because, unlike other players (and let’s be honest, you and me) Jack almost never beat himself.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. Have you ever focused so intensely on school, work or golf that you neglected other areas of your life? We’ve seen that happen with great players over the years. But Jack Nicklaus understood how to successfully balance all the good things in his life—and we can too.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series based on the book, “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. Let’s continue the lesson on self-talk by learning how to deal with ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts). We’ll see how Jack’s own son struggled with ANTS—and learn 5 simple steps to keep the ANTS off the golf course.
This week, we go into our archive of over 1,000 lessons to launch a new 7-day series based on “Best Seat in the House” by Jack Nicklaus II and Don Yaeger. Did you know that we speak between 8,000 and 13,000 words a day? Fewer than 1,000 of those words are unique. That means we’re using the same words over and over on the golf course—and some of those words hurt our performance. Here’s how Jack Nicklaus managed self-talk, even when he was playing badly.
Welcome back to the last day in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” When you’re playing badly week after week, how much work will it take to get your confidence and game back? According to Collin Morikawa’s coach, a lot less than you think—and he offers a quick-fix exercise to prove it.
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” Nelly Korda is one of the world’s best. She’s also very honest about her emotions. Here’s a lesson she learned about anger—and a 60-second exercise to help us manage our own.
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” It doesn’t matter that Scottie Scheffler 4-putted the last hole of the 2022 Masters. He still won by three. But the reason he 4-putted does matter. Today, we’ll unpack that reason and offer a drill from Scottie that can save you from those dreaded 3- and 4-putts.
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” When Ben Hogan was in his prime, he was revered for his ball-striking accuracy. Other players gathered on the practice tee to watch him work. One day, as LPGA champion Nancy Lopez watched Hogan practice, she realized he really did have a secret. But it had nothing to do with the golf swing.
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” Rory McIlroy said, “Our mind is way more powerful than anything else. If you can utilize that the right way, it’s going to help your game.” Today, we dive into the science behind that statement and prove that a positive mindset is the fastest way to lower your score.
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” In 2003, Annika Sorenstam became the first woman to enter a PGA event since Babe Zaharias in 1946. But she knew her chipping needed work. So before the tournament, she got some advice from a guy who knew a thing or two about the short game: Tiger Woods.
This week we bring you an original Imagine Golf series, “7 Days with 7 Champions.” Most of the time, it’s best to play it safe, in life and in golf. But today, one of the game’s greatest and most conservative champions tells us to be bold. Here’s a story to inspire courage and a drill to develop it.
Welcome back to the last day in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. Pia and Lynn say, “Imagine a line of dominoes. When the first domino is pushed, they all start falling. That’s the way your emotions interact with your physical and mental functioning. But you have the power to control whether the chain reaction is positive or negative.” Today, we’ll pay a visit to the body’s internal pharmacy...
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. Let’s start with a biology lesson. We are bombarded with information, sensations, thoughts, and experiences. It’s too much for the conscious mind to process. So we evolved a filter that neuroscientists call the Reticular Activating System, or RAS. Today we’ll learn how to focus better by programming our RAS...
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. Pia and Lynn say, “While tension can have its roots in your mind—for example, fear about the situation you’re in—it manifests itself in your body.” And that’s good news. Not the tension itself, but the fact that tension gives us a heads-up. Today we’ll learn how to identify and stop tension before it takes over...
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. In 2007, Ai Miyazato was a young player on the Japan Tour. Fans marveled at her smooth tempo. It was like watching a dancer. How she lost her tempo, and then got it back, will help you find your own best tempo—and when you do, you’ll hit it farther and straighter...
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. We talked about the Think Box and the Decision Line. Today we’ll add the last component: the Play Box. To help us understand this powerful concept, Pia and Lynn introduce us to one of their clients: F-16 pilot, Major Dan Rooney...
Welcome back to Day 2 in our series on “Play Your Best Golf Now” by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. Last time we talked about the Think Box. But what happens after you step outside that box? Today we’ll learn about crossing the Decision Line and committing to our shots. Our role model isn’t Rory or Annika. It’s Julius Caesar...
This week we’re learning from two of the best, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, and their amazing book, “Play Your Best Golf Now.” According to Pia and Lynn, “Every shot demands that you make multiple decisions: about your club, your target, the wind, the lie, your strategy. The Think Box is the dress rehearsal for golf.” Today, we’ll learn how the Think Box can help you save strokes immediately...
Welcome back to the final day in our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” When we think of meditation, we usually think of sitting still. But the practice of walking meditation takes a different approach—and it’s perfect for golf. Today, we’ll go step-by-step through a meditation you can use to stay relaxed as you walk the fairways this weekend...
Welcome back to Day 6 in our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” Today, we’ll apply everything we’ve learned to our preshot routine. The specifics of your routine will vary, but the concepts still apply. Let’s begin by imagining you’re on the first tee at the legendary Oakmont Country Club...
Welcome back to Day 5 in our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” Jayne says, “The golf swing has been written about, analyzed, and scrutinized more than any other motion in sports.” Our minds are filled with lessons and tips, diagrams and slo-mo videos. So naturally, we try to think our way through the swing. But as Jayne shows us today, that’s the opposite of what we need to do...
Welcome back to Day 4 in our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” We talked about the prefrontal cortex. That’s the thought processing center in the front of our brains. Most of us ride shotgun in the prefrontal cortex (we think too much). To play in a state of relaxed concentration, we need to move into the backseat and let our motor skills drive...
Welcome back to Day 3 in our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” Jayne says, “By itself, the mind cannot be silent.” In other words, your mind never sleeps. It’s always processing sensations, generating thoughts, and accessing memories, 24/7. That’s just how the mind works. But that’s only part of the problem for us as golfers...
This week we’re learning to manage our game from the inside out with performance coach, Jayne Story and her book “Breathe Golf.” First, let’s get in touch with your golf brain. Place your hand on the back of your head. Right there, under your skull, is the occipital lobe. That’s your visual processing center. When you’re relaxed and focused, you’re hanging back in your occipital lobe. Your brainwaves slow down, everything seems clear, and your game just flows. Today, Jayne shows us how to go there and stay there...
Welcome back to our series on Jayne Story’s “Breathe Golf.” Jayne says, “Training your attention on your breath is the simplest, most direct way to experience the present moment and the effortless golf shot. Breathing alters the chemistry of the brain, and with it, the mind-body connection.” Today, we’ll practice two kinds of breathing: vertical and horizontal...
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. Collin has a skill that helps him win: How to learn from every shot. Your ability to be neutral is essential to that skill. Here’s how Collin plays his best by staying calm and curious.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. We remember things we put emotion into. Today, you’ll learn how to add emotion to your great shots, store them in a computer folder in your mind, and access them when you need them on the golf course. It’s like building a Confidence Resume.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. You can look at any shot as a threat or an opportunity. If you take it on as a threat, you’ll create a stress response. If you take it on as a challenge, you’ll create a positive response. It all comes down to self-awareness. Here’s how you can turn threats into opportunities.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. Do you hit the ball better on the range than on the golf course? That’s because golf has so many variables but we practice in a fixed environment. We’re not really practicing the sport of golf. We’re just practicing a swing. Make your practice more real and you’ll get real results faster.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. Most golfers struggle to perform under pressure. Adding pressure on the driving range will help you overcome pressure on the golf course. That’s the power of Performance-Based Practice.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. Would you hop in your car and drive around aimlessly? No. It’s the same with golf. For each round, you need an outcome goal—and today, Rick shows you how to set and achieve that goal.
This week, the Daily Drive brings you an exclusive 7-Day Course from Rick Sessinghaus, coach of two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. We’ve seen Morikawa play in the zone. But “the zone,” also known as “the flow state,” is something you can create every time you step on the golf course. Today, Rick shows you how.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. Dave organizes course management into three areas: conservative strategy, aggressive execution, and knowing the difference. It’s kind of like the Serenity Prayer for Golfers—and it can save you a lot of strokes and frustration.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. We hear about pre-shot routines all the time. But is it really that important? Yes. In fact, it’s so important, Dave breaks it down into two parts: preshot preparation and preshot ritual. Here’s how to lower your score immediately using Dave’s two-step routine.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. When chipping, should you leave the flagstick in the hole or take it out? That question is as old as the game. Dave, being the data head that he is, built a machine to settle the debate once and for all.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. When you hit approach shots, do you hold your position until the ball lands and you see the results? Today, Dave shows you how to use your built-in biofeedback loop. “You don’t even have to think about it,” he says. “Feel your swing, watch your shot, and let your subconscious do the rest.”
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. How do you develop the right tempo for your swing? Grab a pitching wedge, walk through this visualization with Dave, and learn how to clock the speed of your swing to get the distance and accuracy you need.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. “I wish,” Dave says, “I had a nickel for every time I heard a golfer say, ‘I’m hitting it great on the practice tee but I can’t take it to the golf course.’” Listen to Dave’s advice today and you may never utter those dreaded words again.
This week we turn the Imagine Golf spotlight on the legendary master of the short game, Dave Pelz. We’re often told to get within 3 feet of the cup. But even pros rarely do that. Dave has a more practical approach: focus on the eight feet between a 2-foot gimme and a tough but makeable 10-footer. Imagine the grass in-between is tinted gold. That’s your new score zone.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. “We lose,” Doc says, “when we ratchet up our intensity and play the closing holes as if they were the most important of our lives. Great players treat Sunday shots like practice shots.” Here’s how to apply that radical concept to your game.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. A good round of golf starts long before you tee off. In fact, it starts with something most of us don’t even bring to the golf course: a complete game plan. And that means having a contingency plan for anything that can happen.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. “When you’re into your target,” Doc says, “it’s as if there’s a laser beam linking your mind and the spot where you want the ball to go. Hazards like trees and water don’t distract you. You think only of the ball going to the target. Nothing else exists.” Use these 4 steps to develop your own laser-like focus.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. Staying in the present moment should be the easiest thing in the world—because physically, you are always in the present moment. But unlike the body, the mind is not limited to the here and now. And when your mind wanders, so does your game. Try this simple rule to help you stay present from tee to green.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. Doc has the best definition of confidence that I’ve ever heard. “Confident golfers,” he says, “think about what they want to happen. Golfers who lack confidence think about what they don’t want to happen. That’s all confidence is.” Here’s an exercise to help you redefine your confidence on the golf course.
Welcome back to our series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. I can vividly recall my wedding day. And the first time I held my son, Charlie. Psychologists call these moments “flashbulb memories.” It’s all about the emotion attached to the moment—and we can use that insight can improve our performance on the golf course.
Welcome to our new series on “The Golfer’s Mind” by Dr. Bob Rotella. Did you know your subconscious is like a spreadsheet? It records all the thoughts you have about yourself, positive and negative—and the running total determines your self-image on the golf course. Today, we’ll learn how to stack your subconscious spreadsheet with positive data.