Not bad for a 45-year-old.<\/p>\n
While most golfers that age are gearing down their schedules and prepping for life on the Champions Tour, Rose refuses to slow down. In fact, some could argue he\u2019s playing the best golf of his career. For someone with a resume as strong as his (U.S. Open title, Gold Medal, former World No. 1), that\u2019s saying something.<\/p>\n
In honor of Rose\u2019s career resurgence, we are taking a look back at the November 2016 issue of GOLF Magazine. In it, Rose shared four keys for playing your best golf under pressure.<\/p>\n
Rose\u2019s 4 keys to playing under pressure<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bloke\u2019s got bottle!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In England, that\u2019s how we describe someone with guts \u2014 the guy who plays great under pressure. I\u2019ve strived for \u201cbottle\u201d from the first time I laced up my spikes. Some players are naturally clutch. I had to work at it. With 20 worldwide wins, including a U.S. Open and an Olympic gold medal, I think I\u2019ve figured it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right \u2014 you can learn to relax, have fun and hit great shots when the heat is on. And anyone can follow my four-step plan. So get ready \u2014 you\u2019re about to start playing like an Olympic champion.<\/p>\n
1. Build a process<\/p>\n
My best clutch moment? Striping a 4-iron into the 18th green on Sunday to nail down the 2013 U.S. Open. Phil Mickelson was breathing down my neck. And hey \u2014 a 4-iron isn\u2019t what I\u2019d call my \u201cgo-to\u201d club. | would have choked that shot earlier in my career. I used to let things get to me \u2014 a big crowd, fear of hitting a bad shot. Older and wiser, I now only pay attention to the process.<\/p>\n
That word is bandied about a lot on Tour \u2014 and for good reason. Full focus on your process, or pre-shot routine, shields your confidence from fear and bad thoughts.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have a set pre-shot routine \u2014 from picturing the shot to selecting the appropriate club and settling into your stance \u2014 get one. Stat. Your routine isn\u2019t a precursor to a shot. Think of it as part of the shot \u2014 the part over which you have total control. And run your process at the same speed every time.<\/p>\n
Pressure forces you to speed up, and that\u2019s not good. How do I know I\u2019m in a clutch state of mind? When it takes me the same amount of time to set up for a critical drive late on Sunday \u2014 with the world watching \u2014 as it does for an easy pitch on Thursday with nobody watching. Remember: Your routine is a \u201cshot\u201d you can nail every time.<\/p>\n
2. Be a planner<\/p>\n
I tend to shoot higher numbers in the afternoon than I do in morning rounds. The reason? Bad routine. Sometimes, I wake up too early, then do nothing but stare at the clock all day, creating a hornet\u2019s nest of nervous energy in the process. By my tee time, I\u2019m emotionally spent.<\/p>\n
It can happen to you, too. For gold! When you\u2019ve scheduled that post-lunch four-ball, make sure you go about your normal business, whether it\u2019s dropping the kids off at school, attending to work matters or hitting the gym. The trick: Act normal while doing everything at a slightly slower pace, and plan your routine so you have time for a solid warm-up. Rushing through a busy day only speeds up your mind and swing, hardly helpful in high-pressure moments.<\/p>\n
When you get to the course, avoid using pre-round practice as a means to fix your slice or to suddenly perfect that flop shot. You\u2019ll get too \u201cin your head.\u201d Think simple thoughts, such as, \u201cSwing my driver as smoothly as I do my 7-iron.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emphasize rhythm over mechanics \u2014 better tempo makes it easier to execute your process. If that thought doesn\u2019t do the trick, there\u2019s no need to panic. Check your basics. Bad range swings are often the result of poor alignment or an issue with your grip. Nail your fundamentals, and you\u2019ll nail your shots.<\/p>\n
3. Find a go-to drive<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve picked up a good chunk of yards off the tee the past few seasons. Not bad for a guy in his mid-thirties. <\/p>\n
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