PREPARING FOR A PGA TOUR EVENT AT TURNING STONE by Dave Mahoney

PREPARING FOR A PGA TOUR EVENT AT TURNING STONE By: Dave Mahoney
http://www.davemahoneygolf.com

 Wednesday’s preparation for the Turning Stone Resort Championship proved that being a player on the PGA Tour presents a tremendous physical and mental challenge.  After a long season of continuous travel, the players found themselves braving the elements that consisted of a 45 degree day with rain and wind.  Many of the players were committed to playing in the Pro-Am and most of the others were outside practicing.   
 
 I arrived at Turning Stone around noon, and after a 15 minute lunch with John Craig, we were on our way to Adam Scott’s interview.  After the interview I asked Adam if he brought his surf board with him and he commented that it would come in handy on the fairways here.  He also added that he didn’t come prepared with a lot of warm weather gear.  With four layers on today, I found myself still feeling cold. 
 
 However, the best players in the world know how to handle the weather both on a mental and physical level.  I was talking to Aaron Baddeley and he remarked that staying warm and dry is top on the priority list.  This is something Dr. Bob Rotella also preached to me before I would go to a tournament.  When getting ready for any round of golf it is essential to have the necessary equipment so you can minimize the distraction of the elements.  After you are as physically comfortable as possible, the next step is staying as mentally positive as you can. 
 
 Jack Nicklaus has talked about how he thrived on having the opportunity to compete in what many would often label as “bad weather”.  He stated that before the actual tournament began, he would estimate that about 90 percent of the players in the field played themselves out of the tournament by mere complaining and negative thinking.  So staying positive and embracing the elements is a great way to give yourself a little mental edge when you tee it up. 
 
 As for the night before the tournament, the players all seemed to have very casual routines.  Michael Sim stated that he wasn’t going to spend extra time thinking about the week ahead after he finished practicing.  Aaron Baddley told me that he liked the routine of going to a tour “Bible Study”.  Any way you look at it, the best players in the world know how to keep it simple by not over doing or over analyzing anything.  The best players know how to go to the course, practice what they need to with full focus, and then relax and let it go until tournament time. 
 
 Dr. Bob Rotella once told me a story about how Brad Faxon had won a tournament the same week he decided to play tennis instead of a practice round.  Maybe we will find that this week’s winner was at the casino during today’s practice round. Who Knows?!  Preparation is different for all players, and I hope this article will help you to find your best way to prepare for your next round! 

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