The secret to playing well in the air? The Shriners’ rivals share strategies

PGA Tour players don’t often play in extreme conditions — especially during the Fall Series — but this week’s Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas is an exception.

On Friday, tee times were pushed back four hours due to high winds, which often gusted to 50 mph. And once the game started, the conditions continued to be very challenging.

However, many players managed to post rounds under par, despite the strong wind. So what is the secret to achieving spiritual success? For many top competitors, it comes down to one attribute that has nothing to do with throwing: attitude.

“It was tough,” said Davis Thompson, who shot rounds of 66-68 (-8). “I mean I knew it was going to be tough. I just tried to have a positive attitude about it. And, yes, I just tried to hit good golf shots and give myself a lot of looks. “

As a resident of Sea Island, Ga., Thompson said he’s used to playing in the air. But there is a strategy, too, he said.

“I mean the goal in the wind is hit as often as possible and you give yourself a lot of looks and you just know that par is going to be a good score,” he said. “Just try not to press and don’t rush the sticks. If you do that it can just wind up into a short sided or hazard area. Yes, just staying patient and trying to hit more greens. “

JJ Spaun fired rounds of 65-69 (-8) to put himself in contention.

“I think that’s the key to playing in these tough conditions, hitting the ball hard,” he said on Friday. “That’s the only way you can control your ball, and I did a great job of that today.”

Like Thompson, Spaun emphasized the need to accept difficult situations.

“Of course you should be easy on yourself or as I think you are compassionate,” she said. “You don’t want to get too frustrated because the ball just rolled from the 30.

“It happens to everybody, so I think you have to do your best to try to play smart,” he continued. “It’s like you think a lot about what you miss on days like this, especially when the mood is high. So, yeah, I just tried to wrap it up in that sense. I just tried to connect all day long. He is very good at it.”

Greyson Sigg, who posted rounds of 67-69 (-6) agreed.

“You just have to take it one shot at a time. I know that sounds normal, but there’s nothing you can do,” she said. “I think they’re top 10 and we’ve had a heavy hand in this wave. I mean, you just hit the best shot you can and you hit the best putt and you just put them together at the end of the day. “

Fortunately, the forecast has improved significantly for Saturday, when the remaining players will complete the second round and the third round will begin after the cut. Temperatures will climb into the 70s, and wind speeds are expected to top out at 15 mph.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of women’s varsity golfers, Jessica knows how to beat everyone on the golf course. He can pass them through the office, too, where he is primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s first Style Issue, which began in February 2018. His first interview series, “A Round With,” released in November 2015, and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.