Brittany Lincicome and Pia and Lynn

[PEZGolf]

It was interesting to read the article in yesterday's "USA Today" about Brittany and how she is using Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott for instruction. They have helped her with her mental game, and she has learned to relax more on the course, and not get "up tight". Apparently, their advice is working since she shot a 2 under 70 and is only 2 shots out of the lead. Their two books, "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose" and "The Game Before the Game" are excellent, and they do stress the proper mental approach to the game. They coached and taught Annika, and she gives them credit for helping her become the great Champion that she was.

Meantime, what happened to Paula Creamer---a 77??

[CreamerFan]

Meantime, what happened to Paula Creamer---a 77??

Awful, she got on bogey train that she couldn't get off. 4 consecutive bogies doomed her. At least she didn't do as bad as Wie, back to back 81's...ouch!

[PEZGolf]

Brittany won!! Congratulations to her. The advice that she received from Pia and Lynn paid off with her first victory in a Major.

Paula did come back with a 69, the same score that Brittany had today, and finished tied for 17th. At least she did not give up, and bounced back.

Also, I am glad to see Michelle shoot 71, after those two awful rounds on Friday and yesterday.

All in all, it was an exciting tournament and Brittany is a deserving Champion.

[CreamerFan]

Yes, congrats to Brittany! I was really pulling for her, but I was worried her putter was gonna let her down. How bout that 2nd shot to the green at 18? absolutely amazing! You can't ask for more drama and excitement on the last holes of major tournament; as good as any thing I've seen on the pga tour. these Girls definitley Rock!

[PEZGolf]

Yes, congrats to Brittany! I was really pulling for her, but I was worried her putter was gonna let her down. How bout that 2nd shot to the green at 18? absolutely amazing! You can't ask for more drama and excitement on the last holes of major tournament; as good as any thing I've seen on the pga tour. these Girls definitley Rock!

She said that her hands were shaking as she gripped that hybrid for the second shot to the 18th green! Talk about great response under pressure!

[jorruss]

Pia and Lynn may get all the credit, but I spied Brittany working here in Daytona with Craig Shankland also. Craig is long remembered as Beth Daniel's coach. She said she spent a lot of time fishing last year instead of practicing. If she can keep up the good habits I expect a big year from her this year. I'm working on an interview with her, I'll post it on my blog as soon as I get a chance to speak to her.

[PEZGolf]

Pia and Lynn may get all the credit, but I spied Brittany working here in Daytona with Craig Shankland also. Craig is long remembered as Beth Daniel's coach. She said she spent a lot of time fishing last year instead of practicing. If she can keep up the good habits I expect a big year from her this year. I'm working on an interview with her, I'll post it on my blog as soon as I get a chance to speak to her.

Thanks for the post. As I understand it, Pia and Lynn really concentrate on the mental aspect of the game, with a vision of the total person. I find their concepts great as described in "The Game Before The Game" and "Every Shot Must Have A Purpose".

[jorruss]

At the top level on Sunday, it really comes down to who is thinking (or NOT thinking) the best. Mental Game gurus like Pia, Dr. Gio, Rotella and the like have helped many golfers get over the hump. My old college golf coach said it best I think: "Tournament golf is 90% mental, and 10% mental."

[PEZGolf]

At the top level on Sunday, it really comes down to who is thinking (or NOT thinking) the best. Mental Game gurus like Pia, Dr. Gio, Rotella and the like have helped many golfers get over the hump. My old college golf coach said it best I think: "Tournament golf is 90% mental, and 10% mental."

Good post. After a player gets the proper techniques down, and has a repeating swing and putting stroke, it does come down to the mental game. All of the greats, including Tiger, Jack, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Ben Hogan, Arnie, etc. were great at the mental aspect. That is why they could win multiple Majors.

[bobsuruncle]

yup, couldn't agree more. these guys and gals are all so good, it is their mental toughness that ultimately separates them. Look at Kenny Perry's meltdown at the Masters, or Alex Cekja's at The Players. Or look at Major champions losing it altogether - Ian Baker-Finch and David Duval come to mind.

[PEZGolf]

yup, couldn't agree more. these guys and gals are all so good, it is their mental toughness that ultimately separates them. Look at Kenny Perry's meltdown at the Masters, or Alex Cekja's at The Players. Or look at Major champions losing it altogether - Ian Baker-Finch and David Duval come to mind.

I have two reactions to the widespread use of sports psychologists by today's players: 1. It is beneficial to the game at large, and an understandable development. These players are trying to make a living off this great game, and they know the importance of the mental side of the game. People like Chuck Cook, Pia and Lynn, and Bob Rotella can give good advice that helps the average player as well. 2. There are limits to what a player can learn from these "experts". The old time greats, from Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen up to Jack, Arnie, and Gary, did not have sports psychologists to advise them. They figured it out for themselves, and had the right "intestinal fortitude" to rise to the top of their profession. When you read about some of their matches, you can see that they were better at the mental side than their opponents. For example, in 1926, Bobby Jones and The Haig played a huge money match in Florida that was scheduled for 72 holes. It was billed as the Match between the #1 Pro (Hagen) and the #1 Amateur (Jones) to decide the World's Greatest Golfer. Hagen won the coin toss and chose to start the matches at Jones' course, rather than his own. Hagen's promoter could not believe it! When he asked The Haig about his thinking, the response was that he wanted to take on Jones on his turf, and if he had a lead by the time they came to Hagen's course, it would give him a huge advantage. That is exactly what happened, and Hagen crushed Jones 12 and 11. In his autobiography, Jones said it took him a year to get over that loss, and he spent a lot of time thinking about it. After that he got better and better, and then of course, won The Grand Slam in 1930. Like Champions in other sports, the Greats of Golf learned as much in defeat as they did in victory. They figured it out for themselves, with help from their friends and family, and their golf instructor, if they had one. They did not have a sports psychologist.

[iacas]

Like Champions in other sports, the Greats of Golf learned as much in defeat as they did in victory. They figured it out for themselves, with help from their friends and family, and their golf instructor, if they had one. They did not have a sports psychologist.

Don't you get tired of talking up the old players? If they could have had such a thing as a sports psychologist and they felt it would have given them an extra edge, they'd have used 'em as fast as anything. They were looking for every advantage they could, just like guys these days.

They're not coolor, better, smarter, or grittier just because sports psychology didn't exist back then.

[jorruss]

Don't you get tired of talking up the old players? If they could have had such a thing as a sports psychologist and they felt it would have given them an extra edge, they'd have used 'em as fast as anything. They were looking for every advantage they could, just like guys these days.

That's what makes for a great debate!

What if Bobby Jones had a titanium driver with a graphite shaft and the modern ball? Would he have won more majors? What about Jack? What if Ben Hogan had an entourage like Dave Pelz and Bob Rotella to help him get over his yips? On the flip side, how would today's players play without the super detailed yardage books and exact yardages and were forced to "eyeball" distances like Snead and Hagen and Nelson? How would the modern players do on greens that roll at 6 or 7, instead of 12 and 13?

[PEZGolf]

That's what makes for a great debate!

I agree with you. It does make for an interesting debate. While golf clubs, balls and golf courses have changed from 1900 on, the kind of mindset, focus, and ability to forget a bad shot that characterized the old time greats is still required of modern day players if they want to win Championships. We can learn by reading their autobiographies ( I have read those written by Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen). They are excellent at descriping the way they thought while playing. They were their own sports psychologists, and obviously did a good job of "figuring it out".

[Lemay427]

Who is Brittany Lincicome?

[PEZGolf]

Who is Brittany Lincicome?

You are joking, right? Here is your answer: Brittany Lincicome HEIGHT: 5'10" TOUR STATUS: Priority List Category: 1(a) ROOKIE YEAR: 2005 OFFICIAL WEBSITE SEASON OVERVIEW STARTS: 7 VICTORIES: 1 TOP 10 FINISHES: 2 EARNINGS: $378,129.00 2009 Kraft Nabisco Champion

[PEZGolf]

Another student who uses Pia and Lynn is Suzann Pettersen, and she is doing well this weekend. She is tied for 11th, with Paula Creamer and Ai Miyazato at minus 13, four back of Mika Miyazato and Soo-Yun Kang. It is nice to see Paula come back with a 65 today, after yesterday's 72. This is the last year for the Corning Classic, after 31 years. Thank God that The Golf Channel is showing it. I believe that tomorrow the final round is on from 7 to 9:30 PM. It will be worth watching!

[Lemay427]

The death of the LPGA tour at least on American soil....

LPGA Corning Classic
Pos Player Today Thru Total
T1 Mika Miyazato 1:00 -17
T1 Soo-Yun Kang 1:00 -17
T3 Jimin Jeong -4 6 -16
T3 Yani Tseng 12:52 -16
T5 Song-Hee Kim -3 5 -15