Golf is a game of right now

[golf_junkie27]

I've been watching the AT&T; Classic and Kenny Perry is near the top of the leaderboard. So many times we hear about how one bad shot ruins a round or how a total collapse can put you in a funk. Here's Kenny, who shot an 81 last Sunday, destroying his chances of winning the Players and he's got a great chance of winning this week's tournament.

For the better player's, what is your mindset against negativity? How do you approach playing a round of golf? What expectations do you have?

I don't want to know about recovering from a bad shot. That's already been covered. The negativity I'm talking about is the feeling you get when you think it's not your day, when the course does not suit your eye, when good shots don't react like they normally do.

How do you overcome these moments to still play well and shoot low?

[xTsUnAmI]

Great post, I know for me personally, I try to completely focus and commit to every shot. I think I do a really good job of relaxing and keeping my feelings in check. If I hit a bad shot, or have a bad round, I really try to put it out of my mind and focus on whats next.

[Dent]

Dont know if i'm considered a better player or not:

For me, its about sleep the last night, how Loose I am, and how confident I feel that day.

Every round I go out to shoot my personal best score. One double bogey can kill me. For me, my whole round depends on my first hole score. I don't know why, thats just how it goes for me.

[shortgrass lover]

yea thats usually how I am. Although today I bogeyed the first hole and shot 39, but yesterday I birdied the first hole and ended up with an ugly 43

[hawkeye]

Expectations? none.

Took a triple bogey on the first hole (of 36) of a coure i've never played las Sunday. Finished +5 for the round, and +6 for round 2 (another triple, though on the 14th). Got cut 0.1 off my handicap - a good day at the office.

I try to go out with an "I-don't-care" attitude - no expectations. Relax, take it easy, smell the flowers, enjoy the company and the course. That's just me - I'm just an ordinary amateur.

At Kenny Perry's level - it's a profession. One bad round jumps up and snaps you every now and then. Golf psychologists have a lot to do with it - but even before them, the top players had "belief" - a bad hole would be followed by a birdie. Having a swing you can trust 100% is one reason why these guys are up there consistantly too.

After a bad hole - don't ask....what if? Ask yourself - what can I do now?

[JaY_B]

When I find out I'll tell you, atm its my mind set that's stopping me from getting lower.