In today’s edition of Play Smart, we hear from several Solheim Cup competitors how they deal with initial jitters.
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Welcome to Play Smart, GOLF.com’s regular game improvement column to help you play smarter, better golf.
GAINESVILLE, Va. – Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is quiet today – but it won’t be for long. Come Friday morning, the place will be there rockin’.
When the golfers from Team USA and their counterparts from Team Europe step onto the first tee, the decibel level will read more like a football game than a golf tournament. When it comes to group events at this level, noise is not only expected but encouraged.
Andrea Lee, who is preparing for her second Solheim Cup appearance, learned this lesson in her rookie appearance last summer in Spain.
“It was the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever felt as a freshman in my entire life,” he said. “I’m so happy to hear those feelings again.”
Most of us recreational players have never felt the emotion of representing your country in front of thousands of fans. Well, all of us be you felt the first sensations at one time or another. Whether it’s running in front of a group of strangers or playing off the tee during our club tournament, first-tee jitters are something we can all relate to.
Ahead of this year’s Solheim Cup, players from both teams are preparing to overcome their initial jitters come Friday morning. Here are some of their tricks.
1. Accept the feelings
Linn Grant has been a big-time player – and he proved as much in his rookie debut last summer as he posted a 3-2-0 record. One of the keys to being so successful under pressure? Hugging emotions.
“I always try to tell myself that I love those moments and that’s why I play professional golf, to get those feelings and learn to behave in those situations or hold back,” he said.
It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get rid of your jitters, so it’s best if you just embrace them.
2. Focus on your plan
Technique is a word you’ll hear a lot from professional golfers – and for good reason. When your emotions are high, it can be easy to act in ways you wouldn’t. That’s why professional golfers always talk about their routines. Competitive golf is stressful by nature, so it’s important to stick to a strict routine.
Lauren Coughlin is making her Solheim Cup debut this week, and she’s doing so in her home country among friends and family. He knows there will be pressure when he steps on that first tee, but he plans to rely on what he knows to get him through.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about and preparing for,” he said. “All I can do is control myself and my process, and that’s all I’m going to focus on.”
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