For many beginner and amateur golfers, playing in a tournament, especially the first one, can be a very nervous experience.
However, there are occasions during a tournament which can be different to anything else you have experienced before on a golf course. One of those occasions is a playoff and if you reach the end of a tournament in tie with one or more players at the top of the leaderboard, a playoff is the most likely form of action to decide a winner.
Think back to the end of the 2017 Masters, when Sergio Garcia defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to win the famous green jacket. While you will not have millions of people around the globe watching your playoff, you are sure to feel the pressure of the situation, especially if it is your first time in a playoff.
Playing in a local tournament means you are likely to be involved in a one-hole playoff, so you must be fully focused and keep your concentration following the completion of your round. Allowing yourself to completely relax and switch off could make it difficult for you to get back in the zone.
If the playoff is on a hole you played well during your round, it makes sense to play it in the same way. If you played an attacking shot and got a birdie, do the same again. Do not be tempted to ‘play it safe’ because it is a playoff, as this could result in a poor shot and you will regret not being aggressive in your play.
If you are returning to a hole which did not go well during your round, perhaps you should consider a different approach this time. Think about what went wrong. If it was in the execution of the shot, think about all the great ones you have played which have led to you being in the playoff. If it was a wrong choice of club or shot, think about that you need to change to improve the outcome.
If you were leading the tournament, only to miss a putt on the final green to win, this can play on your mind heading into the playoff.
You will be thinking how you should not be here and an opportunity went to waste. However, you need to put positive thoughts in your mind, so think about that you did to get yourself in the position to win the tournament. Much like the tip about playing the same hole on which you had some success, do not be tempted to go on the defensive. Keep yourself in an attacking frame of mind.
Finally, use your position on the tee in the playoff to your advantage. If you are playing first, focus on getting your ball on the fairway and put the pressure on your opponent. Doing this can often lead an opponent into thinking they need to do more and this can generate mistakes.
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