As I watched Henrik Stenson win The Open golf championship 2016, it wasn’t his golf that got my attention – it was his face.
His facial expression throughout the course on the final day said : I will win this.
There was no doubt in his mind – this moment belonged to him.
After overcoming some huge set backs over the years, this great golfer was desperate to win his first major and get his life back on track.
When most would have given up , he found the strength from somewhere to carry on.
But arguably, just before The Open had started, was his biggest reason of all to give up, lose concentration and play below his best.
He had just lost a dear friend to cancer and the upset that would have caused is enough to weaken anyone’s spirit, focus and desire to win.
Henrik Stenson used every inch of fight he had to fuel him in the opposite direction – he had found that strength from the emotion of losing his friend. And he was winning for him as much as for himself.
Nothing, and no one was going to stop that happening. His facial expressions told that story.
When it comes to major tournaments , skill, talent and experience is in abundance, which means if you want to win, you have to search for that something extra to take you further than the best golfers in the world.
And do it when you’re under a global spotlight .
That something extra is never physical. It’s an emotional pull, the likes of which you’ve probably never experienced before. It’s your reason to win. And when that happens your game reaches another level.
A Lesson To Learn
So if there is a lesson for you to learn from Stenson, and many others who have gone before him it’s this:
When your reason and desire is unbreakable , that emotion will give you the edge.
When your mind-set says ‘2nd place is not an option’ , that emotion will give you the edge.
And when your self-belief matches your skill level,that emotion will give you the edge.
Mickleson played a superb game of golf. he truly is one of the best there is.
But on the day, Stenson had won before he’d even started.
Because you have to win mentally, before you can win physically.
And he did just that.
Amana
The Spotlight Guru,
Straight forward, straight talking Coach