One attribute I’ve always admired about American professional sportsmen is their amazing competitive desire in their chosen sport, and in life.
I’ve met, played against and watched Americans in golf, baseball, basketball and football and they can get ultra hyped about winning.
Tiger Woods is so competitive he refuses to give credit or credence to anyone on a golf course except himself.
He wants his opponents to know he thinks he should win every time he goes out. That self-taught belief system has waned somewhat since his marital break-up.
I’ve seen photos of his ex recently and I’ve seen photos of his current girl – Tiger, I think you need your eyes checked, man. And your kids have to miss you.
Still, that’s ancient history and golf is all that counts, right?
So how is it Rory McIlroy, who has already won a couple of Majors, suddenly thinks he’s more like Adam Scott than Tiger?
Adam is Adam, Rory is Rory, but there is only one Tiger.
Adam and Rory know Tiger is a one man franchise (with some baggage).
They had different upbringings and have different values to Tiger, but they sure as heck could benefit from Tiger’s approach on the course.
Some say you have to lose a lot to start winning Majors. Tiger doesn’t subscribe to that theory.
He wants to win now, today, every time he goes out. He wants to lead by the cut and cruise home by five shots.
And if he doesn’t, he’s never satisfied with his game.
If he loses, he’s not placated by platitudes. He wants to work out why he lost and fix it today.
Adam’s a quieter kid, a master’s apprentice who’s served his time.
He knows now that winning isn’t only Tiger’s province. He can win too… it’s allowed.
In fact, he thinks he now can win every time he saddles up and he went mighty close to three in a row over the weekend.
Sometimes the nerves can only sustain a couple of wins in a row. The focus goes, the touch goes, the doubt comes back and the constant attention weighs on one.
Adam looks like a guy who could shoot 66 every day.
The putting’s much better, the short game is getting there and from tee to fairway he’s immaculate. Even most approaches are clinical.
Rory has gone off the boil entirely and blamed illness, injury, tiredness (not his female companion, thankfully) and he has momentarily lost his drive.
Rory’s self belief and the pace of his stroke have brought doubt. He can no longer stand over a ball and say to himself “This is in!” or even “This is going to hit the pin.”
Adam can almost swear every ball he hits is pretty close to perfect. Tiger swears it has to be that way.
These three guys could have golf all to themselves if the personal issues and the self belief reach the right levels.
It’s something I’d love them to think about in 2014.
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