Worry Less, Swing Better!
I played 9 holes last weekend, and while it was great to get out, I can’t say it was exactly fun. We were slopping around in the mud and I actually slipped over! Fortunately, no injuries, and since it happened on the 9th fairway, I didn't have to endure wet, muddy trousers for long.
We expect rubbish weather at this time of year, but I was surprised to see the LPGA’s Tournament of Champions in Florida reduced to 54 holes due to unusually cool and windy conditions. It was brilliant to see Nelly Korda back in the winner’s circle, silencing the critics after her winless 2025 season.
I must admit, it was remiss of me not to mention Lottie Woad last week, as she was also competing in Florida following her fantastic Scottish Open win last year, and even shared the lead with Lydia Ko after two rounds.
I’m also glad Nelly spoke out about the women’s TGL launch. While stars like Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson and Lottie Woad have already signed up, the jury is still out for Nelly. She feels it’s a massive missed opportunity not to include female pros in a mixed format, a point I made myself when the league first launched. If the goal is to make golf more inclusive, surely we should grab these high-energy opportunities to showcase the men’s and women’s games together.
Back to our level of golf, are you still in a reflective mood about your goals for this season... once it stops raining? You might relate to Lauren Katims, who is three years into her journey. In this article, she reflects on her beginnings, the habits she’s glad she built, and those she wishes she’d ditched ages ago.
It’s so true, we often spend too long focusing on things that negatively impact our progress, rather than habits that make our game more efficient. Lauren’s insights are excellent, especially if you’re new to the game, but they are a great reminder for us all on how to reset.
For instance, a classic bad habit is comparing yourself to others. They might have a lower handicap, but fretting over your own bad shots is just a waste of mental energy. As Lauren says, that only leads to more bad shots, a cycle I know all too well! Even after years of playing, I still feel that anxiety when my game spirals.
This happened just before Christmas when I played with three excellent golfers. My shots were lagging behind, I wasn’t at my best, and it took me far too long to settle down because I was worrying more about what they were thinking (which was probably nothing!) rather than my own game. Looking back on that round now, I realise it was a complete waste of energy, but unfortunately, some habits are definitely harder to break than others!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
