There are plenty of reasons to feel first-tee jitters, whether youâre playing a Sunday-afternoon round with your buddies, paired with a group of strangers in a pro-am or youâre an LPGA professional at the Hugel-Air Premia L.A. Open (April 22 to 25), when the best women in the world go Hollywood at Wilshire Country Club (below). How will they harness that nervous energy and stripe one â and how can you do the same?
Check out the four steps below.
1. Do a dress rehearsal
Donât just finish your pre-round range session by mindlessly cranking away at a few drivers. Be intentional about it. Visualize the first fairway, go through your pre-shot routine and pretend youâre hitting the first drive of your round. Youâll feel more comfortable when you get to the real thing.
2. Stick to the script
This isnât the time to improvise. If you normally hit a cut, hit a cut. If youâre not a long hitter, donât suddenly try to bomb one. Embrace the best version of your golfing self.
3. Don’t be a heroÂ
Pick a conservative target. If thereâs water on the right side â or, in this case, Beverly Boulevard â play to the left. This doesnât mean playing scared. It means playing smart. Taking an aggressive swing at the safest possible target is the best way to guarantee youâll feel comfortable over the ball.
4. Embrace the spotlight
Itâs easy to feel rushed and self-conscious when youâre on the first tee. Take your time! Breathe…âfocus…âsmile. See your target. And make the best swing you can.
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