The PGA Championship is right around the corner, and as the tournament date approaches, those participating players will no doubt have creeping anxiety and stress. However, it is definitely possible to deal with this stress, and in fact, there are specific techniques that the pros use to do so. This article goes over these techniques. So, keep reading: whether you’ll be stepping on the course at Oak Hill in LA or just want to keep those pre-tourney jitters at bay, by the end of this article, you’ll walk away knowing some concrete methods that the pros use to deal with the pressure of the PGA Championship.
Golf is a game that requires mental and physical prowess, and one of the most important skills to develop is the ability to handle pressure. What this means at its core is having the right mindset. This means establishing the ideal attitude toward one’s performance. The PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, and the pressure to perform at the highest level can be overwhelming. We work with PGA golfers daily, and without a doubt, their ability to deal with high-pressure competition is going into the tourney with the right mindset.
Choose a Growth Mindset
The ultimate way to deal with pressure in the PGA Championship (or any other competitive tournament) is to adopt a growth mindset. According to Dr. Carol Dweck, adopting a growth mindset means believing that abilities and skills can be developed through hard work and dedication rather than believing that abilities and skills are fixed.¹ At its core, choosing a growth mindset means recognizing and believing that each performance is a tool for continued improvement. For example, using a growth mindset, PGA golfers would view tournament pressure as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than a threat to their performance. Pressure comes from future predictions and expectations, so if we can reframe our focus, we should decrease the pressure.
Applying a Growth Mindset
Well, by definition, the PGA Championship or any major tourney puts an enormous spotlight on golfers’ games. If you have this spotlight on you, wouldn’t it be worth investigating how this spotlight affects your performance? It’s almost like playing in bad weather or with limited clubs—the pressure of poor weather or limited equipment can be a challenge to overcome, and you’ll ultimately get better from the attempt. Does your heart rate increase at odd times? Does your style of play change? Do you feel uncommon emotions (e.g., frustration, anger, apathy) you don’t usually have? Great! Take note of these things, and use them as feedback to improve, for instance:
- On tourney days, you discover that you get into your rhythm a bit later than usual. You take note, and on future tourney days, you commit to a pre-competition routine that includes arriving earlier to get some more swings in and find your rhythm.
- On tourney days, you discover that a big crowd combined with an unfamiliar course causes your heart rate to shoot up. So, next time, you could do some things to build familiarity with the course; Youtube walkthroughs, arriving super early to see the course, or even taking trips a few times in the months leading up to the tourney to build familiarity. This way, you’re reducing one of the anxiety-producing factors (course unfamiliarity). Although the crowd is big, you already know the course like the back of your hand. We also have strategies for dealing with large crowds, so feel free to reach out.
In both examples, you viewed the tournament as feedback for improvement, investigated the tournament’s effects on yourself, and noted specific factors you could improve upon.
Focus on Improving, Not the Outcome
In essence, by reframing and focusing on the process of improvement rather than the outcome of the tournament, golfers can reduce the stress and handle the pressure that comes with high-pressure situations like the PGA Championship.
Research has shown that adopting a growth mindset positively impacts performance under pressure by strengthening motivation and goal persistence. For instance, Gordon and Nair, in the Routledge International Handbook of Golf Science, argue that a growth mindset can benefit golfers by encouraging them to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and learn from their mistakes. They say that golfers with a growth mindset are more likely to view mistakes as opportunities for growth and improvement rather than as signs of failure. Lastly, this can help golfers stay motivated and continue to work towards their goals, even when progress is slow or difficult.²
In a study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, researchers found that athletes with a growth mindset could better regulate their emotions and cope with stress than those with a fixed mindset. The researchers suggest that athletes who believe their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication are likelier to exhibit mental toughness and achieve better performance outcomes.³
Compellingly, in the video below, Tiger Woods describes applying a growth mindset when competing. He says there are always competitors that are better than him, but he’s “always trying to get a little bit better.”
Summary
In conclusion, the ability to handle pressure is a critical skill for golfers at all levels, and one major strategy can help reduce stress’s negative impact on performance: adopting a growth mindset. It’s a fundamental approach to improving performance under pressure. By focusing on the improvement process, golfers can view pressure as an opportunity to learn and grow, leading to better outcomes on the course.
—MTI
Sources:
1. Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House Digital, Inc.
2. Gordon, S., & Nair, J.-L. (2017). Positive psychology and golf. In R. J. Schinke, K. R. McGannon, & B. Smith (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology (pp. 339-352). Routledge.
3. Mahoney, J. W., Gucciardi, D. F., Ntoumanis, N., & Mallet, C. J. (2014). Mental toughness in sport: Motivational antecedents and associations with performance and psychological health. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 36(3), 281-292.
