Qualities of a Tour Pro
- Thread starter wulsy
- Start date
- Status
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Tunnel vision and massive confidence
Matt Bryda
New
Belief in self
and enough physical endurance to accomplish the task
and enough physical endurance to accomplish the task
Last edited:
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
Talent and money don't hurt either
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
The best combination is insane talent, opportunity, and incredible work ethic. When you find those guys, you'll find the ones that were always going to be on Tour. That would be Davis Love, David Duval, Tiger, Nicklaus, Greg Norman,
Then you have the ones who made it on B+ talent, opportunity, over the top work ethic, golf brains and the fact that they were the best chippers and putters in the world. Curtis Strange, Justin Leonard, Brad Faxon, Tom Kite, Zach Johnson
Then you have the ones that are just true golf geniuses, naturals per se. Seve, Johnny Miller, Lanny Wadkins, Fred Couples, Rory Mcllroy, Phil Mickelson, etc
Then it gets cloudy for me, you never know what's gonna put a guy over the top and get him to the big leagues. I have a kid right now in the Zach Johnson mode who has this incredible tunnel vision and work ethic. I think the general consensus in our area is that he's just a really good player. But experience has taught me with his skill set and opportunity and single minded ness, I see no reason why he wouldn't have a shot. I don't dismiss anyone after seeing "can't miss guys" miss...and these dinkers and one way shotmakers who can putt make it.
Then you have the ones who made it on B+ talent, opportunity, over the top work ethic, golf brains and the fact that they were the best chippers and putters in the world. Curtis Strange, Justin Leonard, Brad Faxon, Tom Kite, Zach Johnson
Then you have the ones that are just true golf geniuses, naturals per se. Seve, Johnny Miller, Lanny Wadkins, Fred Couples, Rory Mcllroy, Phil Mickelson, etc
Then it gets cloudy for me, you never know what's gonna put a guy over the top and get him to the big leagues. I have a kid right now in the Zach Johnson mode who has this incredible tunnel vision and work ethic. I think the general consensus in our area is that he's just a really good player. But experience has taught me with his skill set and opportunity and single minded ness, I see no reason why he wouldn't have a shot. I don't dismiss anyone after seeing "can't miss guys" miss...and these dinkers and one way shotmakers who can putt make it.
Last edited:
It starts with an athletic ability to golf and then takes desire, dedication, determination and a confidence that when you put your peg in the ground on the first tee you believe you can beat anybody in the field and pull off any shot that comes your way throughout the course of that round!
I quit playing in '99 and there are talented guys that were around back then (Gary Christian, Scott Parel come to mind) that stuck with it and are still trying to break through. I've come to the conclusion that certain people either 1) Never quit or 2) Don't want to do anything else with their lives.
magicmarker
New
Kevin, can you elaborate on the tunnel vision aspect.
Is it tunnel vision in regards to each shot, winning, making a living on tour, getting better everyday... I can tell they are locked in with tunnel vision in many of the interviews they give but I can't really know where their true focus lies.
Is it tunnel vision in regards to each shot, winning, making a living on tour, getting better everyday... I can tell they are locked in with tunnel vision in many of the interviews they give but I can't really know where their true focus lies.
Kevin Shields
Super Moderator
They never blame themselves, it's always the greens, equipment, or how the stars were aligned. They don't hang around losers who bitch about their games. Things like that. They learn from mistakes, put bad rounds behind them and focus on what they can do next to get better.
magicmarker
New
Thanks Kevin.
In regards to the second sentence, I made a decision a few months ago to avoid playing with 'those people' at any cost. One of the best golf decisions I've ever made, period. I won't even engage in any discussions or conversations however lighthearted they may be (and I work in a pro shop). I started playing golf at 23 (28 now) and it blows my mind just how negative people can be about their ability to play the game well. Your post reminded me of the most important tip I took away from Tiger Woods "How I Play Golf" in that you should never say anything bad about your golf game because there will always be plenty of others who will do it for you.
In regards to the second sentence, I made a decision a few months ago to avoid playing with 'those people' at any cost. One of the best golf decisions I've ever made, period. I won't even engage in any discussions or conversations however lighthearted they may be (and I work in a pro shop). I started playing golf at 23 (28 now) and it blows my mind just how negative people can be about their ability to play the game well. Your post reminded me of the most important tip I took away from Tiger Woods "How I Play Golf" in that you should never say anything bad about your golf game because there will always be plenty of others who will do it for you.
mgranato
New
Easy visualization exercise...
Close your eyes and go through your last round of golf in painful detail. Recall all your pre-shot thoughts, your course management decisions, your confidence level for every shot, and your conviction about the shot. Consider all of these qualities as a total. Now consider the opposite of all these qualities... the qualities of a tour pro.
At least this was what the last tour pro I played with told me.
Close your eyes and go through your last round of golf in painful detail. Recall all your pre-shot thoughts, your course management decisions, your confidence level for every shot, and your conviction about the shot. Consider all of these qualities as a total. Now consider the opposite of all these qualities... the qualities of a tour pro.
At least this was what the last tour pro I played with told me.
Same as any other sport. The handful who make it have talent, perseverance, single mindedness of purpose, and above all opportunity. Opportunity is huge. Call it the lucky gene pool or whatever, but it plays a huge part in making it. Are we to believe there is no talent, perseverance etc in the inner city? The most naturally talented kid I ever I worked with was from Atlantic City, NJ. He shot a legitimate 76 a month after he started playing. Never heard from him again, nor did anybody else. He went under the divots at a very young age...
Tony D'Antonio
New
First and foremost, guys that make the pro tour have an amazing ability to practice. I remember as a kid reading about Nicklaus and Trevino and how much they practiced, hundreds of practice shots and 36 holes of playing each day. I went out that day determined to hit a few hundred balls a day. After 300 8 irons (we had a small practice area at my course, no range) I gave up and went back to playing more than practicing. Lately, I've heard that Greg Norman estimates he hit a few million practice shots. Do the math, that is a few hundred shots each and every day for years. The mental and physical dicipline this takes is a gift that not many people have. Then, for those who have it, they also have to have talent and the desire to be a pro golfer. I've come to the conclusion that there is no great secret as to why pro golfers are good, it is because they worked at it harder than everyone else.
Tony D'Antonio
New
Wulsy, I'm not saying it is a certainty that if you hit millions of balls you'll be good. I am saying that everyone on tour has his millions of balls. And you are right, working hard with a purpose and with thought is better than just working hard.
Great story from Dave Stockton on "On The Range" when he beat Sam Snead in the 1974 L.A. Open(Northern Trust). Snead birdied 17, I think to tie, and on the 18th tee told Stockton "back in 195? I birdied the last 2 holes to beat Hogan". Stockton said it pissed him off a bit. Stockton hit driver then 3 wood from about 230yds to 12 feet. He said he walked by Snead and said "I bet Hogan didn't hit it that close". Stockton went on to make the putt for the birdie and the win.
- Status