Whether it’s in the office, at home or on the golf course, like the kind 2018 U.S. Open and PGA Championship Brooks Koepka experiences, people face pressure in all walks of their lives. Koepka, for his part, seems to thrive in the face of it. He already has three majors by the age of 28 and a track record of playing his best in golf’s biggest events — something many other players struggle with.
His secret? He spoke about it to WFAN Sports Radio on Tuesday:
“I’ve got a different view on this, When you start thinking about results is when you start getting nervous. So if you’re not thinking about the results than there’s no outcome to think about. You’re just out there playing the game. It’s easier said than done…you can look at the leader board and see where you’re at, but it is what it is. You can’t let yourself start thinking, ‘oh man I’ve got two holes to win the U.S. Open.’ If it’s two holes, what you’ve got left is four good golf shots and four more putts, and then move on.”
He continued:
“It’s something I had to learn. I used to be a hot head…In college, I had no problem breaking clubs, acting like a little kid, but I think it was good, learning what works for you. And that was kind of it for me.”
It’s a really interesting and insightful take from one of the best pressure players in golf — and something we we can all apply to our every day lives, whether you’re on the golf course or not. Nervousness comes when you think too much about the outcome. Stay laser focused on the process itself, disregard the outcome, and maybe we’ll all be as ice cold under pressure as Brooks.
You can listen to the full interview below:
