I love to jump on a man when he’s down. It’s the best time to jump because he’s usually defenseless. So I’ll get my shots in on Chris Baldwin, along with the rest of you who have gone nuts over Baldwin’s blog on Retief Goosen being history after his near-death experience at the U.S. Open.
Goosen is too cool to let the experience stay with him for long. Oh, it’ll stick in his craw for a while, but he’ll get over it. Look at Greg Norman, the biggest choker in modern day history. He’s still in self-denial, but he came back and played some good golf after his chokes, and Goosen is twice the man Norman ever was.
If nothing else, Goosen will win again for his many fans and admirers – men and women both – who would love to have his psychology to go with his impeccable game. Why the meltdown? Did he really choke, or was the course simply too hard for him? I admit you’d probably have to say the pressure got to him, since he did so well the first 54 holes, but after watching these guys for years, I’m convinced there is NO ONE out there – pro or amateur – who is immune to the Big Choke. Tiger Woods chokes frequently, but he’s so good he can sometimes overcome it. So Goosen has nothing to be ashamed of. He’s not the automoton everyone seemed to think of.
He’ll win again – big.
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
In the modern era for me it has to be Nick Faldo who was as single minded as the great Hogan . I must also say how i love his commentary on your side of the water and recently highlighted the very point about mental strength when he said to Baker Finch (referring to Sabbatini playing out of turn at the Booz ) "whether you let it bother you is down to you . You have a choice , either you block it out or you choose to be affected by it " . Brilliant , and if anything demonstrated why he was a champion so many times that short phrase did .