Goal setting gives you some purpose Just ask Justin Thomas. The five time winner set himself 16 goals for the season and I think we can safely say he must have achieved every single one of them. At the beginning of 2017 he won the first two events in Hawaii and broke 60. He wanted to be in one of the last two groups in a Major in the final round (US Open) and win a Major (USPGA). To achieve these Bigger goals, his smaller ones if you like included top 30 in scrambling, to try and finish in the top ten of 50% of the events he played in. The way he was playing in third round at Atlanta, it was likely this event was going to be in the wrong 50%, but find a way he did and to have a scoring average of under 70. Amazingly in each of the 5 wins he broke 70 every time.
Now what if you gave yourself something similar for the season in 2018? Such as improve your weakest area of your game by 25%. Improve your best part by 10% on the year. Win a "gold letters" event at the Club, reduce your handicap by 15%. Would that give you an added incentive to keep trying when things might be going a little sour? It worked for Mr Thomas, $10 million richer for the season.
What a great effort by Xander Schauffele, to get to the Tour Championship in your rookie season, with a first win under your belt and rookie honours sewn up and go on and blitz the field to win the event with virtually all the best players from the tour playing. A remarkable achievement.
So what of my pick, Justin Rose? At halfway the Hampshire man was one off the pace only to end up tied 10th. Too many missed putts and not his laser like self contributed to his decline. Not unlike Paul Casey who on Sunday before teeing off was reminded he had the worst completion rate and scoring last round average of all the top players this year. Thanks very much Mr Interviewer, just what he needed to be reminded of going to warm up. He needs to sit down with Thomas and get his secret!
This weekend sees the British Masters at Close House being hosted by Lee Westwood in the third playing of the event. Ian Poulter and Luke Donald hosted the first two. Leading up to the tournament their has been events to jazz golf up and entertain the crowds. A one hole shoot out, which Westwood fittingly won against Sergio Garcia to set things off. Lets hope the weather stays kind to them or they will all be needing their new waterproofs too!
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