Even the most amateurish of amateurs can take a few lessons from the world’s best.
On Sunday, now world number seven Rory McIlroy ended a run of 539 days without a win. He went a full season without a win, he missed cuts at Pebble Beach and then again at the Valspar Championship, he putted badly and he was looking out of sorts.
He, like many modern athletes, continued to say positive things. That he is working hard, that it’s a case of little things improving and that his game was not far away. And despite being one of the world’s best, he swallowed some pride and asked a former pro for advice to rectify putter woes.
I wasn’t one that doubted he would return to the winner’s circle. I’ve long since had him to complete his career slam at Augusta. Rory is class and class is permanent. Not because he’s good but because he’s incredibly determined to finish up as one of the best ever to play the game. He’ll also do whatever it takes to make that a reality.
For context, during his winless run he got married, changed clubs, changed putters (a few times) and changed his ball. He was also getting over a number of niggling injuries that kept him in third gear for much of last season.
Having spent some time around pros – during and after events – it’s quite clear that many of them are just like us.
They react to bad rounds like you do and even sit gloomily in the corner cursing their three putt count or that one bad break that led them to that double drop.
What they do after that is one thing that separates the pros from the ammies.
They practice, they work, they get coached and they grind. Pros, across all tours, spend an insane amount of time working on every aspect of their game – before, during and after events. They know with practice and help from their trainers, that improvement is only a matter of holes away.
When was the last time you practiced with any real intent? Was it even longer since you paid your PGA professional a visit for a lesson? Have you ever had a short-game lesson?
I count myself in the countless thousands of amateurs that sweat and fuss over every round. How, for example, 85 could’ve easily been 80. But I also, rather shockingly, count myself in the same class that fails to practice as much as I should and my last lesson was some time back.
If you aren’t prepared to pick up the club and/or the phone to ask for advice, you’re unlikely to see a consistent improvement in your game. Even less likely to go on a run like Rory did on Sunday.
If like me, you can remember your best round shot for shot and putt for putt, shouldn’t we all be taking a leaf out of Mcllroy’s book and go get some help?
