2023 U.S. Open TV Coverage: Faxon Talks Rotella

World-renowned sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, co-authored several books about the mental side of golf and, in doing so, introduced several (top) players to the advantages of training the mind. Back in the 1980s, word of Rotella’s teachings (first) began reverberating across the world’s top golfers, including the likes of Nick Faldo, Paul Azinger, Brad Faxon, and dozens of others.

Over the course of Rotella’s tenure (working) with professional golfers, each of his teachings were useful in (ultimately) altering the teaching methodologies associated with putting. During the USA network’s TV coverage of the 2023 US Open’s second round, former PGA Tour winner, Brad Faxon, was on the air describing the intense mental grind which accompanies U.S. Open caliber golf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Brad Faxon (@bfaxon)

Year after year, the U.S. Open is designed to be golf’s hardest test. While players in a U.S. Open field are used to shooting competitive rounds in the 60’s when each plays well, playing good golf doesn’t necessarily equate to the kind of score these guys are typically accustomed to within the U.S. Open. Depending on the venue, a really good score could be (both) anything under-par or (as high as) over-par.

In this type of (difficult) environment, the golfing gods test one’s patience/mental assets just as much as the physical ability to play the game. On a typical week, a Tour player is often able to post a favorable score while “playing swing” and “playing golf” simultaneously.

At a U.S. Open, Faxon contends, players (best) suited for competition are (each) decisive, stoic, level-headed, and confident as opposed to those players who rely perhaps too much on the quality of their swing mechanics. Swing mechanics are important for building/maintaining a consistent move, but what happens (to)/when a golfer (who) doesn’t have his best stuff?

What then? Expressed in a different fashion, how does a player react when their ball finishes in an unfavorable spot after he made a quality swing? In the U.S. Open, such characteristics are emphasized more than ever. Often, it’s the 6-8 foot par-putts that keep rounds going vs the 15-20 foot birdie-putts. Sometimes, it’s the 10-footers for bogey that keep the round’s momentum going in a U.S. Open.

As Faxon and other past U.S. Open contestants/winners, such as ESPN golf analyst, Andy North, are each quick in pointing out; players are going to make bogeys at a U.S. Open. But, the players who don’t compound their mistake/error by making another one (the least) are the same players who position themselves atop the leaderboard.

Thankfully (for the average amateur golfer), you don’t have to play the sort of courses that are as challenging in nature as those that host U.S. Opens, like Winged Foot, Oakmont, LACC, and Merion. But this reality doesn’t mean you aren’t faced with hard times on the golf course. If you’re a golfer, you know what it means to struggle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Moreover, you understand how it feels to get punched in the gut when the game you love isn’t returning the favor, no matter what you seemingly do. For this week’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, 156 players are in the field. Of those 156 players, several had to advance thru local and/or sectional qualifying in order to get to where they each are now.

Coming down the stretch of each qualifier’s sectional qualifier journey, staying focused on the task at hand without becoming over-excited or (too) forward-thinking was paramount in order to outlast the other (potential) qualifiers. Staying present-minded is not easy, especially when qualifying for a U.S. Open is on the line.

These days, tens of thousands of golfers can hit the ball 300 yards or further. It isn’t so much the physical assets/advantages which separate the world’s best from the mini-tour players or the lower tour guys from club professionals as it is the mental side of the game. As I’ve touched on before, there’s no substitute for belief.

Cover Image Via Twitter & Twitter