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They say golf is 90% mental, and the other 10% is mental. This makes it similar to a lot of sports.
Few athletes know this better than Mardi Fish.
During his long and successful tennis career, Fish saw the view from a mountaintop (in 2011, he became the American No. 1 in the ATP rankings), but he also suffered from severe anxiety disorder, a condition that once caused him to withdraw from a match against Roger Federer at the US Open.
Since retiring from the hard court in 2015, Fish, 41, has found a competitive outlet on the course. He’s a regular on the famous golf circuit, and one of the former champions on the field this week at the American Century Championship, at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, in Lake Tahoe.
For Fish, playing golf in front of crowds isn’t as stressful as playing tennis for a living. But it is very worrying.
“I definitely get on the nerves,” Fish says. “I have to find ways to deal with them.”
With practice rounds taking place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the real deal taking place on Friday, GOLF.com asked Fish to share his most reliable ways to combat stress on the course.
Let go of expectations
This is easy to say and necessary to do. “Golf is the craziest game,” Fish says. “You really have no idea what’s going to happen from one round to the next, even from one take to the next.” Take a deep breath, please. But there are no deep thoughts. At least no thoughts about what just happened or what might happen next. “You can play against a terrible nine and then have the best defensive nine of your life.” The ghost dwelling you made in the last hole won’t do you any good. You won’t get the bird you want the next day. “You can’t predict what’s to come,” Fish says. “So don’t even try.”
Cut yourself some imperfection
“In tennis, there wasn’t a lot of cool,” Fish says. “It was also a reaction.” The constant motion called him to act on instinct, and the action left him little time for reflection. “In golf, the opposite is true,” says Fish. “You have a lot of time to think, and that can take you to places that aren’t good for your mental state.” the solution? Allow yourself the freedom to let your mind wander. Take in the opinions. Chat with your play partner or caddy. When it’s time to play your shot, nail it. Then let it go. “In tennis, I’ve trained not to let my focus slip away,” Fish says. “In golf, you have to cut yourself some slack.”
Don’t get caught up in the mechanics
At the Bel Air Country Club, where he’s from, Fish played a fair amount with fellow member and TV announcer Al Michaels. “Al will come up to you and say, ‘How many tips do you want?'” Fish doesn’t want any of them,” says Fish. Under stress, it’s easy to start obsessing over the mechanics. Soon, you’ll be down the rabbit hole. Clear your mind and let your athletic instincts flow.