Lydia Ko ... downside of professional golf

[rblmp32]

I listened to the whole interview with Lydia Sunday evening and it was really great.  She seemed to be very honest and thoughtful and a delight to listen to.  Very cool.  

[tacklingdummy]

On 2/19/2024 at 8:42 AM, PedronNiall said:

I'm just gonna guess that a top NBA or NFL player is a lot more likely to have to hear through the grapevine about every comment that hit traditional media, social media, and podcasts regarding their screw up than a top pro golfer. Many of the other sports might be team affairs, but if people feel you were the weakest link you're going to know it from everyone who wants to give you the heat. Once again, that's not including all the film you're going to have to watch even if you manage to avoid what all the talking heads are saying.

 

I mean, hell, who other sports stars date is front page news. Outside of Tiger and Rory, golfer's love lives barely get a mention, and Rory's only got it when he was tied to a known tennis star of the moment. Golf is a happy aside in comparison to the kind of attention major sports get. 

 

I'd much rather have a career in the relatively insulated world of golf than that of most other sports. Far, far less noise on the daily in almost every way imaginable. Yeah, if you can't deal with the voice in your own head getting down on you then you're done, but that's the case in literally any sport. If your head is a mess, all the support in the world isn't going to make those key putts for you any more than it will help you make shots or score points, etc. 

 

Whatever you do career-wise, you have to perform and will be judged on your performance. Thems the breaks. If you judge yourself to the point it's a constant or heavy stressor then get a therapist or whatever else you need to get through it, or get out when it gets to be too much. It seems likely once Ko gets her HoF spot that's exactly the route she plans on and will likely enjoy getting to live for something outside of her golf. I'm sure 20ish years in any spotlight can be taxing if you don't really have any interest in that side of the pro sports game. 

 

 

Not just news articles. The pro golfers have to deal the the media rooms and interviews that question and highlight their mistakes. Also, the pro golfer's environment is not all happy go lucky as many think. All the pro golfers are under the spotlight and under the microscope in their own environments where a lot of what they do gets scrutinized and criticized.  I think that is why a lot of players have their entourage around them all the time when they working (practicing, playing). Blocks out a lot of the random stranger naysayers that are critical about shots, technique, etc and circle around them all the time. People like to tear people down when they get higher. Bad part of human nature. Golf can be a very negative echo chamber that is not just in the player's heads. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2024 by tacklingdummy

[Dutch1008]

1 hour ago, tacklingdummy said:

Not just news articles. The pro golfers have to deal the the media rooms and interviews that question and highlight their mistakes. Also, the pro golfer's environment is not all happy go lucky as many think. All the pro golfers are under the spotlight and under the microscope in their own environments where a lot of what they do gets scrutinized and criticized.  I think that is why a lot of players have their entourage around them all the time when they working (practicing, playing). Blocks out a lot of the random stranger naysayers that are critical about shots, technique, etc and circle around them all the time. People like to tear people down when they get higher. Bad part of human nature. Golf can be a very negative echo chamber that is not just in the player's heads. 

 

Dude that is just sports. Golf is not unique. Every MLB pitcher is going to dwell on the fastball he left over the middle of the plate that his opponent took deep. Every QB is going to obsess over every throw he was off target, every open WR he didn't see, every pick he threw. Every guy in the NBA will think about the key free throw he missed, the poorly timed turnover, the game winning shot he bricked. Each of them are going to have to face the media, deal with fans, watch the film, and deal with the results. 

 

Scottie Scheffler missing a 3 foot bunny in round 2 and ultimately losing the tourney by a stroke is not all that different from a left tackle giving up a sack on 3rd and long, leaving his team out of field goal range in the 2nd qtr, and ultimately losing the game by 1. Both Scottie and that football team had time to make up for that set back but when you do the post mortem after the event, all of the individual actions in each event lead to the final result. Team or individual, results are always a sum of the parts. 

 

Ted Lasso summed it up pretty well. Be a goldfish. You can't let one bad shot derail a round, one interception effect the next drive, one missed 3 keep you from having the confidence to shoot the next one. I'm in no way offended by what Lydia said. I think she's just being honest. However, I would say that she probably needs to change her mindset. Tiger's a legend because he'd miraculously turn 75's into 71. Because he didn't let an opening nine 40 stop him from dusting the field by 12 at Augusta. To be fair to Lydia, most athletes don't have the mindset. Or at least not at the same levels as the Mt. Rushmore athletes do. 

[tacklingdummy]

53 minutes ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

Dude that is just sports. Golf is not unique. Every MLB pitcher is going to dwell on the fastball he left over the middle of the plate that his opponent took deep. Every QB is going to obsess over every throw he was off target, every open WR he didn't see, every pick he threw. Every guy in the NBA will think about the key free throw he missed, the poorly timed turnover, the game winning shot he bricked. Each of them are going to have to face the media, deal with fans, watch the film, and deal with the results. 

 

Scottie Scheffler missing a 3 foot bunny in round 2 and ultimately losing the tourney by a stroke is not all that different from a left tackle giving up a sack on 3rd and long, leaving his team out of field goal range in the 2nd qtr, and ultimately losing the game by 1. Both Scottie and that football team had time to make up for that set back but when you do the post mortem after the event, all of the individual actions in each event lead to the final result. Team or individual, results are always a sum of the parts. 

 

Ted Lasso summed it up pretty well. Be a goldfish. You can't let one bad shot derail a round, one interception effect the next drive, one missed 3 keep you from having the confidence to shoot the next one. I'm in no way offended by what Lydia said. I think she's just being honest. However, I would say that she probably needs to change her mindset. Tiger's a legend because he'd miraculously turn 75's into 71. Because he didn't let an opening nine 40 stop him from dusting the field by 12 at Augusta. To be fair to Lydia, most athletes don't have the mindset. Or at least not at the same levels as the Mt. Rushmore athletes do. 

 

Ko is a legend as well. She is nearly in the HOF at 26 years old and only needs one more win. 20 LPGA wins, 2 majors, and 28 total worldwide wins. It is funny how people here are saying she needs to change her weak mentality as one of the best golfers on the planet. 😂

[PedronNiall]

28 minutes ago, tacklingdummy said:

 

Ko is a legend as well. She is nearly in the HOF at 26 years old and only needs one more win. 20 LPGA wins, 2 majors, and 28 total worldwide wins. It is funny how people here are saying she needs to change her weak mentality as one of the best golfers on the planet. 😂

 

People say the same about Rory, who has more Majors than Ko, because it's true. Some golfers let the outside & inside pressure get to them, some don't. I'm not sure what you're after. Multiple people have demonstrated that not only is the scrutiny not unique to golf, it's at a much more intense level in other sports. No one is calling Ko in to watch film of her entire round or break down every missed putt again and again; people in other sports will have to deal with something exactly along those lines.

 

Do you think in general a top LPGA pro golfer or a top pro football player is more likely to have their success or blunder make the main page in the sports section come Monday? Pro LPGA golfer vs pro basketball player? It is what it is, most other sports are far bigger than Women's golf and it's absurd to pretend like the scrutiny is equal when it's not. Other than one PGA tournament a year, pro golfers on any tour certainly don't have to worry about getting booed because of a 'bad play' or an audience of millions watching the post-game shows--plural for other sports because they're that big--and being evaluated in front of a massive audience the moment the event is over.

 

No one is doubting her ability or her achievements. People are simply pointing out the reality that any high level competition is going to create pressure, most more so than golf, and that her comments candid or otherwise are not the kind of thing most at the top ever give voice to, let alone acknowledging it as a regular occurrence. She seems poised to finish up her career and enjoy a relatively quiet life away from the game after, which is her right and seems to fit with who she is. Everyone isn't a world beater ready to take all comers and develop a selective mindset to ignore the doubts, including their own, nor do they need to be.

 

I'm not sure why you think commentary on her outlook on her introspective tendencies is commentary on anything other than that. It's not an insult to her career, accomplishments, or who she is as a person.

[bobfoster]

On 2/19/2024 at 3:06 AM, TiScape said:

Most of my opinions are at least flawed and mostly just plain wrong. Just ask @aenemated 

 

😂

If you think some of my posts are ridiculous, you should see some of my life choices. 🤣

 

Used to excuse them by saying "I was going through a weird time". As though the rest of my life wasn't total clown shoes. 

 

Nice thing about getting older is the privilege of just saying stuff on the internet and not even remotely caring what anyone thinks.

Edited February 21, 2024 by bobfoster

[Dutch1008]

11 hours ago, tacklingdummy said:

Ko is a legend as well. She is nearly in the HOF at 26 years old and only needs one more win. 20 LPGA wins, 2 majors, and 28 total worldwide wins. It is funny how people here are saying she needs to change her weak mentality as one of the best golfers on the planet. 😂

 

Good grief. Only on the internet is subtle criticism taken as a mandate that a player is trash. She's been one of the premier players in the LPGA for a dozen years and has two majors to show for it. Undoubtedly great but receives a tiny fraction of the criticism or scrutiny that Rory, JT, or Spieth receive. She's a big girl, you can take off the kid gloves. 

[Dutch1008]

10 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

People say the same about Rory, who has more Majors than Ko, because it's true. Some golfers let the outside & inside pressure get to them, some don't. I'm not sure what you're after. Multiple people have demonstrated that not only is the scrutiny not unique to golf, it's at a much more intense level in other sports. No one is calling Ko in to watch film of her entire round or break down every missed putt again and again; people in other sports will have to deal with something exactly along those lines.

 

Do you think in general a top LPGA pro golfer or a top pro football player is more likely to have their success or blunder make the main page in the sports section come Monday? Pro LPGA golfer vs pro basketball player? It is what it is, most other sports are far bigger than Women's golf and it's absurd to pretend like the scrutiny is equal when it's not. Other than one PGA tournament a year, pro golfers on any tour certainly don't have to worry about getting booed because of a 'bad play' or an audience of millions watching the post-game shows--plural for other sports because they're that big--and being evaluated in front of a massive audience the moment the event is over.

 

No one is doubting her ability or her achievements. People are simply pointing out the reality that any high level competition is going to create pressure, most more so than golf, and that her comments candid or otherwise are not the kind of thing most at the top ever give voice to, let alone acknowledging it as a regular occurrence. She seems poised to finish up her career and enjoy a relatively quiet life away from the game after, which is her right and seems to fit with who she is. Everyone isn't a world beater ready to take all comers and develop a selective mindset to ignore the doubts, including their own, nor do they need to be.

 

I'm not sure why you think commentary on her outlook on her introspective tendencies is commentary on anything other than that. It's not an insult to her career, accomplishments, or who she is as a person.

 

Rory is a great comp. Uber talented youngsters that lived up to the hype but despite each of their impressive accomplishments, you can't help but think they've somewhat underachieved. Interestingly, both are introspective and far more open and honest w/ the media than most of their peers. 

[TiScape]

21 hours ago, rblmp32 said:

I listened to the whole interview with Lydia Sunday evening and it was really great.  She seemed to be very honest and thoughtful and a delight to listen to.  Very cool.  

Speaking of being really honest. Anthony Rendon who hasn’t played in over 58 games since joining the Angels and makes ~$40 mil a season, let the reporters know at spring training that baseball has never been a top priority and it’s just a job he does to make a living. Gotta love the honesty huh 😊

[Dutch1008]

9 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Speaking of being really honest. Anthony Rendon who hasn’t played in over 58 games since joining the Angels and makes ~$40 mil a season, let the reporters know at spring training that baseball has never been a top priority and it’s just a job he does to make a living. Gotta love the honesty huh 😊

 Mike Trout deserves better 😔

[tacklingdummy]

14 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

 

People say the same about Rory, who has more Majors than Ko, because it's true. Some golfers let the outside & inside pressure get to them, some don't. I'm not sure what you're after. Multiple people have demonstrated that not only is the scrutiny not unique to golf, it's at a much more intense level in other sports. No one is calling Ko in to watch film of her entire round or break down every missed putt again and again; people in other sports will have to deal with something exactly along those lines.

 

Do you think in general a top LPGA pro golfer or a top pro football player is more likely to have their success or blunder make the main page in the sports section come Monday? Pro LPGA golfer vs pro basketball player? It is what it is, most other sports are far bigger than Women's golf and it's absurd to pretend like the scrutiny is equal when it's not. Other than one PGA tournament a year, pro golfers on any tour certainly don't have to worry about getting booed because of a 'bad play' or an audience of millions watching the post-game shows--plural for other sports because they're that big--and being evaluated in front of a massive audience the moment the event is over.

 

No one is doubting her ability or her achievements. People are simply pointing out the reality that any high level competition is going to create pressure, most more so than golf, and that her comments candid or otherwise are not the kind of thing most at the top ever give voice to, let alone acknowledging it as a regular occurrence. She seems poised to finish up her career and enjoy a relatively quiet life away from the game after, which is her right and seems to fit with who she is. Everyone isn't a world beater ready to take all comers and develop a selective mindset to ignore the doubts, including their own, nor do they need to be.

 

I'm not sure why you think commentary on her outlook on her introspective tendencies is commentary on anything other than that. It's not an insult to her career, accomplishments, or who she is as a person.

 

4 hours ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

Good grief. Only on the internet is subtle criticism taken as a mandate that a player is trash. She's been one of the premier players in the LPGA for a dozen years and has two majors to show for it. Undoubtedly great but receives a tiny fraction of the criticism or scrutiny that Rory, JT, or Spieth receive. She's a big girl, you can take off the kid gloves. 

 

Only on the Internet, will people take an idle comment from a pro about golf being tough being under the microscope and saying that she needs to change her poor mentality like it has not done her well and is holding her back. 😂 

[kiwigolf72]

Lydia was absolutely roasted here at home during her winless period 2017 -2021? 

Every time she played and didn't win, she was in the news and every armchair expert was ripping into her, not only about her golf but her family and her personal life including her weight loss and personal appearance.

I can understand her comments in this interview.

Edited February 21, 2024 by kiwigolf72

[Dutch1008]

13 minutes ago, tacklingdummy said:

Only on the Internet, will people take an idle comment from a pro about golf being tough being under the microscope and saying that she needs to change her poor mentality like it has not done her well and is holding her back. 😂 

 

Perhaps it tough for you to have nuanced debate but I'm not comparing Lydia Ko to Joe Schmoe or Sally Journeyman. I'm comparing her to Annika, Ochoa, Webb, Pak. I'm wondering if peers like Minjee Lee, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Jin-Young Ko will blow past her accomplishments. I'm wondering if the ruthless killer she was as a teen is gone for good. 

 

We have these conversations on the men's side all the time. Phil got it. Adam Scott got it. Sergio got it. Rory, Spieth, and JT got it. The list is endless. We openly talked about Tiger having a mental edge on all of his opponents. That's basically a blanket statement on the mindset of every pro who tee'd it up from '97 to 2009. This isn't harsh or unusual discourse. It's been happening since people began watching sports.  

[TiScape]

1 hour ago, kiwigolf72 said:

Lydia was absolutely roasted here at home during her winless period 2017 -2021? 

Every time she played and didn't win, she was in the news and every armchair expert was ripping into her, not only about her golf but her family and her personal life including her weight loss and personal appearance.

I can understand her comments in this interview.

So essentially the same thing every big name athlete and actor/actress deals with these days. 

[kiwigolf72]

Just now, TiScape said:

So essentially the same thing every big name athlete and actor/actress deals with these days. 

probably just on a more condensed scale, big fish in a little pond.

[Titleist99]

17 hours ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

Dude that is just sports. Golf is not unique. Every MLB pitcher is going to dwell on the fastball he left over the middle of the plate that his opponent took deep. Every QB is going to obsess over every throw he was off target, every open WR he didn't see, every pick he threw. Every guy in the NBA will think about the key free throw he missed, the poorly timed turnover, the game winning shot he bricked. Each of them are going to have to face the media, deal with fans, watch the film, and deal with the results. 

 

Scottie Scheffler missing a 3 foot bunny in round 2 and ultimately losing the tourney by a stroke is not all that different from a left tackle giving up a sack on 3rd and long, leaving his team out of field goal range in the 2nd qtr, and ultimately losing the game by 1. Both Scottie and that football team had time to make up for that set back but when you do the post mortem after the event, all of the individual actions in each event lead to the final result. Team or individual, results are always a sum of the parts. 

 

Ted Lasso summed it up pretty well. Be a goldfish. You can't let one bad shot derail a round, one interception effect the next drive, one missed 3 keep you from having the confidence to shoot the next one. I'm in no way offended by what Lydia said. I think she's just being honest. However, I would say that she probably needs to change her mindset. Tiger's a legend because he'd miraculously turn 75's into 71. Because he didn't let an opening nine 40 stop him from dusting the field by 12 at Augusta. To be fair to Lydia, most athletes don't have the mindset. Or at least not at the same levels as the Mt. Rushmore athletes do. 

Agree, 100%.

 

After reading your halftime speech, I'm ready to suit up ////.....

 

Just give me the ball coach~!🤣

 

*Seriously though, it's called mental toughness.

[Shilgy]

On 2/16/2024 at 3:12 PM, JohnnyCashForever said:

Re-Ranking of the World's Most Difficult Jobs Where You're Evaluated Every Single Day:

 

1002. 1. LPGA Professional Golfer

2. Brain Surgeon

3. Heart Surgeon

4. President of the USA

5. Secret Service Agent

6. Airline Pilot

7. Police Officer

8. Fire Fighter

9. Pope

10. Air Traffic Controller

 

 

Based on a lecture I just heard from a retired airline pilot they are a dying breed.  When he started there were four in the cockpit(pilot/copilot/flight engineer/navigator)….then three(drop navigator)…and now two(drop flight engineer).  He mentioned there is talk of going to one now and zero soon.  Just let the computer handle it.

 

Needless to say he’s not a fan.

[Pops99]

Some of y'all need to actually listen to the pod and not just pontificate on a one-off comment from Lydia. 

 

She came across as extremely humble and grateful for her life in golf. Was funny hearing how nervous she was to play with Jason Day. Super interesting to hear a future hall of famer having these huge nerves. 

[Shilgy]

5 hours ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

Rory is a great comp. Uber talented youngsters that lived up to the hype but despite each of their impressive accomplishments, you can't help but think they've somewhat underachieved. Interestingly, both are introspective and far more open and honest w/ the media than most of their peers. 

Are you still discussing Lydia? 26 years old…one win away from making arguably the most difficult HOF to achieve…is an underachiever?

 

Man, I read it all here on on wrx.

[Shilgy]

17 minutes ago, Titleist99 said:

Agree, 100%.

 

After reading your halftime speech, I'm ready to suit up ////.....

 

Just give me the ball coach~!🤣

 

*Seriously though, it's called mental toughness.

Of course, since most of the posters here just think the athletes just play for the pay it’s good to remember the other athletes get paid the same for that game as if they had a perfect day.

 

Golf is judged differently.

[Dutch1008]

4 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Are you still discussing Lydia? 26 years old…one win away from making arguably the most difficult HOF to achieve…is an underachiever?

 

Man, I read it all here on on wrx.

 

Is this really that hard of a concept to wrap your head around? Let's try a different way...

 

Based on what Jordan Spieth accomplished by his 25th birthday would you say he's underachieved since?

 

Based on what Rory accomplished by his 25th birthday did you think he'd still be stuck on 4 majors?

 

Based on what Lydia accomplished as a freaking teenager, are you surprised she hasn't won a major since? 

 

She's not an underachiever in absolute terms. Any human that collects a single dollar playing professional sports statistically overachieved. It's that Jordan/Rory/Lydia each set themselves on a trajectory where GOAT conversations were in play. None of them were able to sustain that pace. Why is that? What did Jack/Tiger/Annika have that those 3 and countless others don't? I find that interesting. What separates the all time greats from the merely great?  

Edited February 22, 2024 by Dutch1008

[tacklingdummy]

6 hours ago, Dutch1008 said:

 

Perhaps it tough for you to have nuanced debate but I'm not comparing Lydia Ko to Joe Schmoe or Sally Journeyman. I'm comparing her to Annika, Ochoa, Webb, Pak. I'm wondering if peers like Minjee Lee, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Jin-Young Ko will blow past her accomplishments. I'm wondering if the ruthless killer she was as a teen is gone for good. 

 

We have these conversations on the men's side all the time. Phil got it. Adam Scott got it. Sergio got it. Rory, Spieth, and JT got it. The list is endless. We openly talked about Tiger having a mental edge on all of his opponents. That's basically a blanket statement on the mindset of every pro who tee'd it up from '97 to 2009. This isn't harsh or unusual discourse. It's been happening since people began watching sports.  

 

 

You should start soliciting your sports psychology services to the top pros. I'm sure you will be high in demand since many of the top pros need to improve their mentality. I see dozens of major wins with the top pros under your wings. 😜

 

 

 

[bscinstnct]

Wrxer see LKo at range and be like

 

 

🤣

Edited February 22, 2024 by bscinstnct

[JungleJimbo]

50 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

Wrxer see LKo at range and be like

 

 

🤣

 

Can you discern that accent? Scouse, perhaps?  @rukahs or @Rapidcat ? 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3lEFSeNqPO/ 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-13112799/Viral-video-exposes-golf-problem-women.html

https://www.news.com.au/sport/pro-golfer-mansplained-on-swing-in-cringe-viral-video/video/30f80e5d66630f3e7ae85fa64d27c4b1 

 

 

[rukahs]

37 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

Can you discern that accent? Scouse, perhaps?  @rukahs or @Rapidcat ? 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3lEFSeNqPO/ 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-13112799/Viral-video-exposes-golf-problem-women.html

https://www.news.com.au/sport/pro-golfer-mansplained-on-swing-in-cringe-viral-video/video/30f80e5d66630f3e7ae85fa64d27c4b1 

 

 

 

 

Haha definitely scouse. I can't believe she didn't tell him 😄 

[Rapidcat]

1 hour ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

Can you discern that accent? Scouse, perhaps?  @rukahs or @Rapidcat ? 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3lEFSeNqPO/ 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-13112799/Viral-video-exposes-golf-problem-women.html

https://www.news.com.au/sport/pro-golfer-mansplained-on-swing-in-cringe-viral-video/video/30f80e5d66630f3e7ae85fa64d27c4b1 

 

 

 

Hmm, easier to focus on something else watching her hit shots.

 

Perhaps that's his pick-up line at golf ranges: "excuse me love but you're doing it all wrong". Wonder how that works for him?

 

Oh yeah, agree that it's scouse.

[ssp]

Interesting thread.  So many different views & perspectives.

 

[Ferguson]

41 minutes ago, ssp said:

Interesting thread.  So many different views & perspectives.

 

 

Agreed.

 

When viewing professional golf, either on TV or in person, I think the average amateur golfer/viewer develops thoughts and opinions about someone such as Ko.  Then you hear or read how that person feels from the personal perspective and the entire mood changes.  

 

 

 

 

[OnTheBag]

I've been reading this thread and resisting the urge to reply but felt it was time.  I first met a young, bespectacled Lydia in 2012 and was on property when she won twice as an amateur in 2013.  Her command of the golf ball in flight brought back memories of players like Seve and Trevino.

 

Personally, she is one of the more thoughtful, genuine professional golfers that I encountered in my many decades caddying.  What differentiates her from others is her blatant honesty when asked a question.  She has never resorted to stock answers about fairways and greens or the putter behaving, etc...  When asked a question, she answers it with a sincere, thoughtful response. 

 

Has she lost the passion for the competitive game?  I believe she has.  It is difficult to maintain that level of play for an extended period from a mental perspective.  As amateurs, we've all felt the pain related to a period of poor swings or bad luck.  Amplify that pain with the pressure of being the next "Annika" and you are setting these young girls up for failure and mental breakdown.  Some of the names mentioned earlier, Jordan, Rory, Sergio, etc... were all in their 20's when they set the world on fire.  Lydia was 15.  Think about that for a minute.  A 15 year old female athlete with all the pressure of being the next great one.  How could that not bear a mental toll?  

 

It is easy to be critical of someone online, hiding behind the anonymity of a screen name.  Less so when you have fought the same fight or walked a proverbial mile in their shoes.  

 

She was asked a question and answered it honestly.  Let's give her credit for that.  Many of her peers would not have done the same.  

 

No one has asked my opinion, but I expect Lydia to decide to retire some day in the very near future.  Knowing her it will come mid-round, almost out of the blue, and she will be at complete peace with the decision.  

[llewol007]

So true! I used to get on my own case for not shooting a low score but I too realized that I am only as good as my score says. I don’t practice as much or work on my swing as I have heard others to so that puts things in perspective for me. I think with her having a family, the mindset has probably switched. Kinda like Anika. At the end of the day, golf is an on going evaluation of not only your game, but everything else connected and not connected with it that has an affect on the score.