U.S. Open - Graeme McDowell
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22. June 2009
Dr Karl Morris
Just got back from the US Open at the fearsome Bethpage Black course. What a week so far!!
Weather that was more in tune with Manchester in November than New York in June. An interesting time working with Graeme McDowell as we really had to redifine his mental strategy for the week. One thing is for sure at the US Open and that is the golf course is not going to allow you to bounceback instantly.
Tiger Woods is a master at being able to create the right mindset for the conditions at hand. We talked about the TWO things to control this week. The GOLF BALL and YOURSELF. As obvious as it may sound so many golfers ignore the fact that the golf ball will not always make you feel good. Sometimes par is a really good score, sometimes even bogey is good.
With McDowell we talked at length about the need to be able to respond by controlling YOURSELF when at times it seems almost impossible to control the ball. In many PGA Tour events and European Tour events if you make a bogey you can bounce back pretty quickly with a birdie. Not at the US Open. You have to have the courage to control yourself when it seems that your round is slipping away. It is very rare that a golfer works on the TWO ELEMENTS of controlling the ball and controlling himself. Yet it is this type of player who develops true consistency and gets to find out just how good they can become.
Keep working on your technical game by all means but pay due attention to controlling yourself. You may not get to play Bethpage Black but the premise holds true at all levels and at all moments of the game.
Posted on: Monday, June 22, 2009 at 9:00 am 
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