PILLAR NO. 1: STRENGTH
Nicklaus and Tiger are famous for it. Mental toughness:
performing when it matters most. "It's having the strength to stand up to
pressure," Parent says, and being comfortable in that spotlight.
EXERCISE: Don't give yourself gimmes
To get acclimated to pressure, embrace it. Put yourself
under it. For starters, Parent recommends putting every short putt, even if
someone is waiting behind you. "Act like the shot matters, and you'll be
more ready to hit it when it really does."
PILLAR NO. 2: FLEXIBILITY
Your mind needs to be as limber as your body. The most
successful players adapt to different courses and conditions. They think
creatively and accept things as they come. When Vijay Singh was asked if an
Augusta downpour bothered him, he replied, "Only if it's just raining on
me."
EXERCISE: Reconsider your clubs
Mental flexibility means keeping your mind open. Or as
Parent puts it, "Just because you're in the bunker doesn't mean it's a
sand wedge." To cultivate creative thinking, take one club and work around
the practice green, hitting many kinds of shots: high, low, soft, hard. The
next time around, choose just one shot and practice hitting it with every club
in your bag.
PILLAR NO. 3: BALANCE
One shot at a time. Stay in the moment. They're clichés for
a reason: They work. "Not getting too excited, not getting too
depressed," Parent says. "That's what mental balance is all
about."
EXERCISE: Take stock of your thoughts
During your round, count how many times you find yourself
dwelling on the past or pondering the future. Are you still simmering over that
three-putt?
