After watching the world number 1 Jordan Spieth last week at Abu Dhabi golf club, it really hit me just how good he is at managing his way around the golf course. When see watch Rory and Jordan compete side by side it is sometimes hard to imagine how Jordon can keep up. Yet week in week out his is on top and even sometimes dominating leaderboards worldwide.
One of the things you will see that Jordon does better than anyone is managing his misses and playing to his strengths. By managing his misses I mean he knows which side of the green he can miss on, and still give himself the best possible chance of making a par or a birdie. By doing this he removes or at least significantly reduces the odds of making a big number and also plays to his biggest strength which is his short game.
For most golfers this can often be easier said than done. When a golfer gets into trouble on the course, more often than not the image that pops into their head is one from the previous night’s PGA tour coverage, where Sergio hits it around a tree or Tiger makes a ludicrous chip in from the back of the 16th at Augusta, and instead of playing the percentage shot which may end up costing them a shot, they end up attacking the flag and compounding their mistake with another. If you stop and simply think about what’s in front of you, you can often save strokes on the course by simply playing the percentages.
When it comes to applying this logic simply start by assessing your situation and answering the following questions:
- What is your handicap?
This is an important question, simply because your handicap will tell you the “real par” for the hole. If your handicap allows you to have an extra shot on the hole based on the index, and you are simply trying to play an exceptionally difficult shot because you want to hit the green in regulation, you should most definitely reconsider your options.
- What are the odds you can produce a successful result?
If you are highly skilled at this shot and there is at least a 60% chance or higher of producing a successful result then by all means play the aggressive shot. If the odds against you however, and the potential miss could be expensive, just take your medicine and play safe
- Are you in the closing holes of a tournament?
Situation and format are key. If you are in the closing holes of a match play tournament and you are trying to apply some pressure to your opponent, going for glory is definitely a logical option as you may only loose one hole as a result. However if you are in a stroke play event and on a relatively decent score, playing a safer approach may be the better option.
