Lessons from the Pros
What we can all learn from the winner of the 2008 Masters Tournament

I’ve just returned from my annual journey to Augusta, Georgia and the Masters Tournament. Early in the week I was asked to evaluate the 2008 participants. My answer was there are three types of players in the field, those that hope they can win, those that believe they can win and one that fully expects to win.

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As we witnessed, Mr. Woods, that player that fully expected he would win, finished second to one of those that believed he could win, Trevor Immelman.  Trevor was in good form when he arrived at Augusta National Golf Club and being fully recovered from his brush with cancer late in 2007, his ball striking was sharp and his confidence with the putter was high. His fellow countryman and former Masters winner, Gary Player had told the assembled media that Trevor was the best from tee to green since the late Ben Hogan.  In the end Trevor validated Gary’s endorsement.

There is much we can all learn from the way the 2008 Masters winner managed his game on the Sunday that earned him a treasured green jacket and a place in golf history. Let’s examine some examples.

On his opening hole, the par-4 first, likely the result of jittery nerves, Trevor’s tee shot found the trees up the right side. With a two stroke lead at the time, he summoned the discipline to take the safe path back to the fairway that allowed him to hit his approach on to the green, take two putts for a bogey and head to the second still with the lead. How different might the day’s outcome have been if he had tried some heroic recovery, made a double bogey or worse and surrendered his entire lead at the first? The lesson to be learned is when facing challenging recovery shots early in the round don’t take risks that lead to big numbers. All too often I’ve seen amateurs try low percentage golf shots from off the fairway that lead to an early big number. Take your punishment and minimize the damage.

On his fourth hole, the 228 yard 3-par, the flag was tucked behind the front sand bunker. Trevor chose to hit plenty of club to easily clear the sand. While he carried the green, his pitch back was uphill against the wind, an easy play that he hit close enough to convert for par. The tip here is never under-club when to “short-side” yourself will most likely lead to lost strokes.  Most amateurs rarely find themselves over a green and generally because they use too little club. 

On Saturday evening Gary Player had left Trevor a phone message that included the suggestion that he “keep his head still an extra second after striking each putt”. This turned out to be sage advice as he made several key putts during the round. I believe the most critical was his 12 –footer for par on the very difficult eleventh hole. Only moments earlier Tiger Woods had drained a 70-foot putt for birdie and the roar of the crowd was deafening. As Trevor began “amen corner”, a bogey on the heels of Tiger’s birdie could have been a turning point. As he steadied himself over his par putt, a delicate downhill very quick left to right role, his stroke was pure and the golf ball found the bottom of the cup. By following Gary’s advice Trevor made certain not to come up and out of the stroke early, a common mistake that results in opening the face of the putter and starting the golf ball rolling to the right.

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In similar situations during your round, how often have you missed a medium to short putt to the right? Follow Gary Player’s advice and hold your head still a bit longer after the putter has struck the golf ball. Especially on short putts, rather than take a peak, simply listen for the golf ball to drop on the hole; it is a sweet sound.

Lastly, the windy conditions added to the already challenging Augusta National Golf Club course. Often during the round we watched as both Trevor and his playing companion, Brandt Snedeker wrestled with picking the correct club. Two reasons the eventual winner had more success, he widened his stance at address to give him more of a stable base and against the wind he made sure he had plenty of club. In windy conditions it is important to swing well within yourself, don’t over swing. Added balance gained from a wider stance coupled with using more club that the required yardage would dictate will help overcome the effects of wind.

Watching the Masters Tournament is always a thrill. It also signals the true beginning of the golf season for most of us. Hopefully this year you’ll hit that really special golf shot or return that magical score that may not earn a green jacket but will provide those golf memories we cherish. 

Enjoy the greatest of games,

John W. Boykin

John W. Boykin is an elite PGA Member Professional and International Golf Instructor.  John brings a wealth of knowledge about the game and industry to Privileged Play members.