The next ten “Tip of the Day”s are being taken from an article by Dr. Bob Rotella for Golf Digest, titled “Inside the Golfer’s Mind.” We’re paraphrasing, changing the language a little, and condensing his typical three to four paragraphs into one or two. This is tip one of ten: play to win.
Playing to win doesn’t mean playing recklessly – it means playing smart, controlled, and confident. As Phil Mickelson’s 59 yesterday taught us, you don’t need to be 300 yards down the middle of every fairway (he hit 5) to play well. You don’t need to be two feet from every pin. Some of a player’s best scores come when his ballstriking isn’t at its peak.
Playing to win means holing putts. It means keeping yourself in the game. Playing to win doesn’t mean trying to pull away from your opponent on the first six holes – it means putting yourself in a position to seal a victory with great play down the stretch.