Fatal half step forward on a golf course

Image courtesy sosgolf.

By Rahul Banerji

This is a golf horror story. Mostly mine, but a safe bet that it is repeated on golf courses around the world on a daily basis.

It has to do with what I call the fatal half step. The distance between preparation and the actual execution of a golf shot.

Picture this: Practice swing, perfect. The club rises slowly in the ideal arc, hesitates for a micro-second at the top and swings down smoothly into the follow-through. It’s beautiful to a fault.

Now, address the ball, and bang! Either I’ve completely missed the blessed thing, or given it a hearty slice, shanked it square, or created a massive furrow in the turf.

Ever since picking up a golf club some years ago, this phenomenon has played on my mind. Why does this happen day after day to those of us who struggle to avoid recording a hundred on the card?

I’ve seen golfers who have played for years do this, talked to people from around the world. More often than not, it’s the same, sad story.

Common wisdom from these conversations suggests that it has most to do with an over-crowded mind. Golfers, especially bad ones, are all too ready with suggestions and ideas. Add to that sketchy coaching, or hints from caddies on what not to do.

It all adds up, and when I’m winding up to actually hit the ball, I’m a confused mess. Soon after he had won the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in 2015, Bubba Watson said something very similar, having just beaten a quality field with a 21-under score. For me, it was a Hallelujah moment. That even the best in the world do have last second worries standing over a golf ball.

Wire to wire for Brandt

There appeared to be no such clouds over Brandt Snedeker in Greensboro, North Carolina, as he completed a start to finish win at the Wyndham Championship on Sunday. Opening with a stunning 59 on Thursday, the genial American was never caught as he completed his ninth PGA Tour victory and pick up the Sam Snead Cup.

Snedeker had to first complete the final 11 holes of the third round after rain had stopped play on Saturday. He finished with a two-under 68, and then hammered his way to a 65 over the final 18 holes to win by three shots from CT. Pan and Webb Simpson, who closed with a 62. At one point, the lead was with all three of them.

But where the others faltered, Simpson bogeying the final hole and Pan double-bogeying it, Snedeker rolled in a birdie putt to repeat his 2007 win in the event.

And spare a thought for England’s Paul Waring, who finally won his maiden European PGA title in his 200^th start, at the Nordea Masters in Gothenborg, Sweden, on Sunday.

Perseverance pays.

Read also: Teetimetales goes to coach Robin Symes to help get better value on the course