The theme of this post is going to be about RSF. This is short for Relentless Solution Focus. I last left you as I was about to start my final NGA Tour event in Columbia, SC. The event started smoothly. I was three under on my first round headed to the 18th hole having not made a bogey. It was the easiest hole on the course, a short par 5 that was easily reachable in two shots. I hit a quick hook off the tee into a hazard and made an untimely bogey that left a sour taste in my mouth. Heading into day two I was ready to go out from the start and get things back on track. I struggled with my ball striking on the front nine, but was scrambling from everywhere. I redeemed myself on my 9th hole of the day. It was the same hole as the day before that I made a sloppy bogey on to close my round out. I made eagle to make the turn in two under and get to four under for the event. On the back nine, however my swing troubles continued, but I was not able to scramble as well. I got out in front of an iron shot on my 12th hole and made a big number resulting in a triple bogey. I closed well from there, but the triple bogey on 12 cost me and I missed the cut by 2 shots. It was an agonizing week that I wanted so badly to play well in, but I took a lot of great shots out of it.
Today I was in Boise, Idaho for a Web.com qualifier. I was playing very steady before a tough 8th hole put a dent in my progress. If you took a look at my swing on the 8th tee box today and my swing on the 12th tee box in Columbia, SC in round two you would see the exact same swing replicated twice. I hit two monster block shots that found the water right. This has been my miss lately, either a big push or I get active at impact with my hands and hit a hard pull. My leg drive is a burden on these shots and I get out in front with my lower body. This is where I want to talk to you about RSF and how this is going to really help me the remainder of the year. My sports psychologist, Jason Selk, came up with the idea. In life, and especially in golf, there is going to be many problems that come up along the way. For me, I got quite nervous before my tee shots for example today on 8 tee box and on the 12th tee in Columbia, SC. As a result, my troubling swing miss of a block with excessive leg drive came into play on both swings. I was not fully committed to my shot before hand. It is easy looking back in hindsight, but this is why these shots didn't go according to plan. Whenever one of these problems comes along, such as seeing the trouble of a bunker or a lake on a hole, I have to immediately recognize this and find a solution. I need to replace that thought with an overwhelming positive one. It helps even more if I feel it with my body in a rehearsal. As a human being, these bad thoughts will continue to surface, but I have to be proactive and be able to identify it, let it pass, and flush it out with positivity. My goal each round moving forward is to be fully committed to every shot before hand and have 100 percent belief that I am going to execute it accordingly. After that it is all out of my hands, and the results can fall where they may. I can be totally satisfied if I can do that. What bothers me is I can pinpoint like I said to numerous shots where this wasn't the case.
The other thing I really have to keep my focus on the remainder of the year is playing golf as a game. I had a long talk with my Dad today about how uptight I get out there. Golf is hard enough as it is, but when I start adding layers of pressure on the game such as concern about score, or worrying about not hitting it in a specific place, it makes the game that much harder. My goal the remainder of the year is to essentially "try less". The more zoned in I get and more I try to really stress the importance of executing a shot really hurts me in the long run. I have to just go out there and play golf. It sounds so simple, but it is. It is a game. True, I want to succeed at it really bad, but I have to go out there and hit every shot to the best of my ability. If it works out great, if it doesn't, then so be it. I have more than enough talent to be the brightest star in the game, I just have to get out of my way and allow myself to do it. With a relaxed attitude, there is no reason I can't be one of the best golfers in the world soon. In summary, my RSF includes three elements. My three key problem areas are: 1. Mechanically, excess leg drive 2. 100% full commitment on every shot 3. Trying to hard/putting too much pressure on execution.
Moving forward the rest of the year, all the rest of the elements of my game still need my attention, and will be more maintenance, but these three problem areas I have to work day in and day out to find a constant solution. Every single golfer on the planet has things that come easy to them, and things they have to work harder at to get right. I am proud of myself for being able to be critical and honest with myself by seeking out help in identifying what needs work. I have a little less than 1 month before I head to Europe to begin Q School for 2012. I have to go out and get better every single day moving forward and I need to really be in tune with monitoring my three problem areas as mentioned. Tomorrow, I play in a 36 hole pro am here in Boise. It is going to be a fun day with amateurs and it will give me a great opportunity to work on all three elements in a relaxed setting. I have one final tune up before I head to Portugal just south of Atlanta at Callaway Gardens for a 3 day event September 25-27. I am going to rectify my three issues, and come the end of the month be ready to go out and be the absolute best golfer I can be. I'm excited about how my journey is going to unfold the remainder of the year. Thanks for reading and I look forward to updating you shortly on my current 3 part RSF progress. I'm going to get this right, I just need to smile and enjoy it along the way.
