The Sports
Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog examines the number one question asked of sports psychology experts on the radio phone-ins. Why can't Tiger win a major from behind on day four?
Golf: Tiger Woods And The Majors Phenomena
Tiger
Woods won his first Major title in 1997. Since then he has added another
eleven majors to his collection. In all of those events Tiger has been
leading the championship going into the final day, day four. So, if
Tiger has led going into the last day, he wins.
However, in twenty-nine Majors, Tiger has not been leading going into day four. In everyone of those twenty-nine tournaments he has failed to win. So how do we explain this phenomena?
On day four, if Tiger is leading a major, it is because he is playing his A game. Everything is flowing smoothly. His body and mind are working together as one. He executes all his plans as he intends to. He is settled.
However, if he is not leading, then this is a measure of the fact that he is not playing his A game. Maybe a B or C game. Things aren't quite going to plan. What he intends and what he does aren't quite in synch. On day four, Tiger then strives for his A game. He wants more from himself. He demands more.
When he doesn't get what he wants, you can see him start to get frustrated with himself. Shaking his head a little. Tell tale signs of frustration. He is demanding his 9/10 game, but is playing his 6/10 game. Thus there is a gap between what he wants and what he is doing. In this gap frustration grows, until the gap gets bigger. As the gap gets bigger, the frustration grows. Thus a cycle of frustration is created. The bigger the gap, the greater the frustration.
What Tiger needs to do is accept his situation. Ok how can I win playing my 6/10 game? Relax into the fact that not everything is perfect. Not everything is as finely honed as he would like. Maybe there is a good reason for this? The body is physically tired; the emotions are slightly out of balance; the mind is over stretched. All of these influences can impact on how you are. How you feel. It may not be possible to change them. The body may simply be in a cycle of recuperation and regeneration. Accept this. And so keep things simple.
This will bring the mind and body into synch. It will eliminate frustration. It will create harmony which will aid flow. Flow leads to better performance. From this place it is possible to win. But winning isn't the aim. Harmony is the aim. That marks the difference. That takes out the frustration. And increases the chance of success.
