What does it take to win the Open? Golf psychologist 'Dr. Mo' has coached two champions

And so started a journey that has seen "Dr. Mo" assist coach skilled athletes throughout a spread of sports activities -- from the NFL to Nascar. However his true dwelling has all the time been on the green.

A eager golfer in his youth, Pickens penned a dissertation on "The Acquisition of Placing Confidence" en path to receiving his Ph.D. in sport psychology from the College of Virginia. Since then he has cast a reputation as one in every of golf's prime psychologists, working with a few of the recreation's greatest stars throughout a 27-year profession.

Stress

Fittingly, each gamers received through nail-biting four-hole playoffs. For Pickens, making an attempt to copy game-day stress is the largest problem he faces as a sports activities psychologist. Strive as he would possibly -- speak via it and run demanding drills -- there may be merely no method for Pickens to simulate the psychological pressure of an occasion, not to mention a major-deciding playoff.

"It is virtually inconceivable -- as a result of it is a physiological factor -- to get their adrenaline going like it may be going Sunday," Pickens mentioned.

And but, the psychologist's efforts appear to get the perfect out of Johnson, a self-confessed hypercompetitive particular person who relishes Pickens' apply wagers that stake small sums on the end result.

"I am all the time making an attempt one thing I am doing in my apply in order that in terms of the underside line of competing, week in week out on tour, I do know I have been there earlier than. I've seen it, I've felt it, and I might be profitable."

Thoughts administration

The flexibility to coach effectively touches on what Pickens believes to be the 2 essential psychological traits required of elite golfers: self-discipline and the flexibility to manage the thoughts.

It might appear paradoxical, however Pickens says the largest psychological problem going through golfers as they swing is just that the ball is stationary.

Whereas in soccer or tennis, gamers' ideas and corresponding actions are instinctively occupied by the transferring ball, golfers -- pressured to consciously fill this psychological silence -- should as an alternative prepare themselves to "occupy their thoughts." Cross-sport comparisons might be present in basketball's free throw and baseball's pitching.

In essence, that is what Pickens' function boils all the way down to -- serving to gamers to handle their thoughts, particularly within the essential 5 to 6 seconds earlier than the swing. Like a type of meditation, gamers have to know exactly what ideas are coming via their heads.

"Some gamers rely," Pickens explains. "Stroll in. One, membership behind the ball. Two, ft down. Three, have a look at the goal. 4, again to the ball. 5, again swing. Six, via swing.

"If in case you have consistency within the enter out of your pondering, you've got obtained a greater probability to get consistency out of your output to hit the shot."

For Johnson, who had suspected there was one thing "off" in his recreation previous to working with Pickens in 2006, the recommendation caught instantly and has endured all through his 24-year professional profession.

"I believed I had routine, I believed it was constant, I believed it was repeatable, nevertheless it was something however that," Johnson mentioned in a video on Pickens' web site.

"It was extraordinarily inconsistent, it was not thought out, it didn't enable me to play at my finest nor did it give me confidence and consistency shot-to-shot."

Related methods helped Cink to clear his thoughts from an over-fixation on outcomes, the American says in a video on Pickens' web site. At 49 years outdated, Cink continues so as to add to his eight PGA Tour wins, claiming a 3rd RBC Heritage title in April 2021.

In the meantime, managing the thoughts was a lesson that a hot-headed younger Glover -- US Open champion in 2009 -- picked up shortly when he began working with Pickens after graduating from Clemson College in 2001.

"I realized instantly that my mood was affecting my rounds somewhat an excessive amount of," Glover mentioned in a video on the psychologist's web site. "Dr. Mo principally taught me that it was alright to get upset and mad however to let it go shortly and do not let it have an effect on the following shot."

Self-discipline

Nevertheless, the flexibility to occupy the thoughts is nothing with out disciplined apply, Pickens asserts.

Fairly than going out and easily hitting some balls, prime professionals should be laser-focused of their coaching. Crucially, as with the pre-swing routine, gamers ought to take away emotion from their apply -- not merely reflecting on or unhealthy day however dispassionately analyzing their efficiency.

For Pickens, that is one in every of Johnson's most exemplary -- although usually misunderstood -- belongings.

"It is not that Zach does not have feelings. Generally individuals misread and suppose he did not have them," Pickens explains. "He is simply actually good at managing them and specializing in what he needs to deal with.

"And he is unimaginable at going 'okay, that is what I wish to get accomplished and this is how I'll go do it.'

"Lots of people name themselves professionals however they nonetheless simply go play golf. The fellows that make it, they perceive, 'I've to deal with this like a job.'"