The psychology behind the Ryder Cup - by the man who helped golf's top players tackle their nerves
Dr. Brian Hemmings spent 17 years as the head psychologist for England Golf. Here, he offers his insight into golf's ultimate psychological complex
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“If I could put my finger on the problem, I would have changed this shit a long time ago but we haven't and we are going to keep searching.” It was Jim Furyk’s humorous epilogue to the press-conference turned post-mortem after America’s 2014 Ryder Cup defeat at Gleneagles.
Phil Mickelson had just turned on then captain Tom Watson and belittled his leadership philosophies to the amazement of the press gallery. And Furyk, this year’s captain, was caught stumbling in the crossfire before ably hobbling to the sidelines after professing a deep love for Mickelson and almighty respect for Watson - although one senses he secretly sided with his left-handed comrade.
That incident alone will have made Furyk all too aware of the difficulties he faces in implementing his own theories on the American team this year at golf’s ultimate psychological complex. After all, even Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer in the modern era, has been reduced to one of the all-time leading losers by the biennial shootout.
Dr. Brian Hemmings spent 17 years as the head psychologist for England Golf and has seen the likes of Chris Wood, Danny Willet and Ross Fisher all graduate and become Ryder Cup competitors, albeit with contrasting fortunes.
This year Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton also follow that hallowed path from English to European representative, and having spent years accompanying the pair to team events across the world, Hemmings understands the challenging conundrums facing both captain and rookie. Here, he offers his own sage advice.
1. Don’t let rookies burnout…
“Rookies look to the experienced for direction and they need to forewarn them about getting caught up in the competition. There’s so much bubble, needle and hype that they get physically and mentally tired and often you’ll get rookies who panic practice and hit loads of balls as a way to get confident and they’ll burn out. They need help to recognise when to take time for themselves and recover.”
2. Prepare for first tee nerves…
“It’s such an overwhelming occasion that you can see player’s hands literally shaking when they are trying to put the ball down on the tee-peg. They think things like ‘what if I do an air-shot?’ and ‘what if I top it?’ You have to get a player to visualise the situation step-by-step. First the clothes, then the tee box, the announcer, the crowd until you reach the hush and it’s just you and the ball. You need to get as close to the experience as you can without actually hitting the ball so you feel like you’ve been there a million times before.”
3. Don’t disrupt the locker room...
“The best captains don’t actually have to lead that much. A good leader can increase the team’s performance by about 10 per cent whereas a bad one might decrease performance by about 30 per cent. We’re talking about world class players who know how to get the best out of themselves, that’s why they’re in the Ryder Cup in the first place. There are great examples of captains bringing people in to inspire the players like Paul McGinley did with Sir Alex Ferguson but all you’re really trying to do is just make sure there’s a proximity between the players.”
4. Reconcile differences beforehand…
“Time and time again when I talk to players who turn pro, they say what they miss most is team golf as an England international. Players enjoy being a part of a team again but of course there will be some who don’t get on so well. That’s just life and it’s something a good leader has to address beforehand. You don’t need to chase the unachievable all be really pally but there are times where a leader might have to have harsh words and make people realise their responsibilities to others.”
5. Build an understanding between new pairs…
“Experienced pairings already have a sense of when to pump each other up or slow each other down so the captain has to make sure all the new pairings talk in advance and have a mutual understanding on the course. Some players like to talk to their partner a lot on the course while others like to have space. If your partner notices something about your behaviour do you want them to tell you?”
6. Don’t play the occasion…
“Ensure the players don’t do things they wouldn’t normally do. You can only control your own game and how you interact with your partner. Everything else is irrelevant. If the other team is sinking everything then there’s nothing you can do anyway. You need to have the ability to recognise that and not get suckered into doing things you wouldn’t normally do and try and play special shots you shouldn’t.
7. Know when to slow down momentum…
“It only takes one putt or drive to take the heat and pressure out of negative momentum. If things are going against you and you’re on a run of losing holes, the crowd can make you rush because you’re feeling uncomfortable. The best and most experienced players know when to slow things down. When you think of the really great sportsmen, they are always able to take control of the pace of play.”
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