interview
Ernie Els
The South African, a three-time major champion, talks about the importance of decision-making in golf as part of a series of ‘Great Minds’ interviews for this year’s Ballantine’s Championship
H
ow important a part of the game is good decision making? Good decision making is probably the most important part of the game. It’s every bit as important as hitting a thousand golf balls a day. You can be as good a ball striker as you can be, but if you can’t make the right decisions out on the golf course then you’re not going to have a good round. Players are all different: the way you set up mentally, if you want to attack the hole, or play it more safe if the wind is blowing. You have to decide which club to play and how you want to approach the shot. So golf is all about decision making and you have to make those decisions within seconds. Is decision making in some ways a gut instinct? A lot of times you don’t want to over analyse a shot or situation and that’s something you learn through experience. Sometimes you have to ignore the exact yardage and go with what you really feel, because your adrenaline will mean you hit the ball a little further. So gut feeling is all part of what we do. I have played the game for a long time as a professional now and my experience tells me that a gut feel is a major part of your game.
And it is about making those decisions under pressure? Exactly, you are under pressure all the time for four and a half hours. If you shoot 70 shots in a round then that is 70 decisions that you have made. You have to deal with that pressure. Can you give an example of good decision making on the golf course that you are particularly proud of? I’ve made some really good decisions at the right times and I’ve made some not so good ones at the bad times. Golf is quite a complex game and there are a lot of parts that need to flow together. A lot of times you see guys lose tournaments – particularly in majors – more so than guys actually winning them. It gets quite stressful, and at the end of the day, if you make the right decisions, you’ll probably win the golf tournament.
Which past or present players sum up good decision making in golf? Is there still one more major in you? I think the best ever was probably Jack Nicklaus. If you look at the great Yes, absolutely, that is what I am working on players, look at their records, and look at the [video] tape of what they have had right now. I’m trying to get my putting going as to do to win, they have made good decisions at the right times. I’m talking about good as I can, as that’s the one thing that’s holding guys like Nicklaus and Ben Hogan, and guys like Tiger [Woods] and Graeme me back a little bit, and then I’ll just try and work McDowell who have recently won major championships. I like to watch those on my confidence and try and get it going. Because guys, see the video tape and what they have had to go through to eventually win I’ve got all the experience in the world, I just need a golf tournament. You can learn from people like that. We only have maybe a to let it all blend in and happen. minute to do the whole thing: make the club selection, get your wind direction and your shot selection. So there is not a lot of time to make Great Minds Leave Great Impressions your decision and a lot of time it is under stress and with a lot of other Ballantine’s is exploring the role that mental strength plays in stuff happening. To make the right decision you have to use everything golf and the importance of making the right decisions at the you have – including your caddy’s bit of advice – and go with it. In the right time. A host of the world’s best players, including Ernie modern game I think Jim Furyk is very good at that – he manages his Els, have been reflecting on how success comes to those with game very well. And obviously Tiger when he was winning so often. the ability to make these big decisions. For more information He was the best because although he missed a lot of shots he was visit www.ballantineschampionship.com always able to play from where he missed. 76
HK Golfer・JUN 2011
HKGOLFER.COM
HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer・JUN 2011
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