“There is golf and there is tournament golf, and they are not at all alike” – with mental performance coach Chris Kirkland
Bobby Jones said it best: “There is golf and there is tournament golf, and they are not at all alike”. The difference between the two is pressure.
Pressure doesn’t come from the swing, the weather or even the scorecard – it comes from expectations, scrutiny and consequences.
In a casual game, your shots don’t carry much consequence. Tournament golf is a different beast and the short putts and reloads off the tee matter. Shots that felt automatic on the range feel complex. You slow down, take extra time, and try to make sure of every movement. The more you try, the tighter everything gets. In these moments, it’s normal to feel nervous – the key is not to fight those feelings but to understand where they come from and how to manage them.
One of the most important things I do with every player I coach is help them train for these situations and build pressure into their practice sessions. Most players’ sessions look nothing like the game itself and to get better under pressure you need to mimic the demands of competition. That means introducing variation and consequence into your practice – and adding consequence to your sessions is really important.
In addition, on the course you can play worst ball – hitting two shots and playing from the least favourable position for your next shot.
You can also navigate the course in three-hole blocks, focusing on shooting a score you would be pleased with. This allows you to get into the game quickly without falling into the trap of playing golf swing on the course.
Over time, this kind of practice strengthens your golf-related neural pathways – the brain’s wiring that controls your swing under pressure. The more you challenge those pathways, the stronger they become and the more you’ll see your training transfer to competition.
Pressure isn’t your enemy, it’s your teacher. It reveals where your attention goes, how your mind reacts, and how ready you really are to compete. By making practice real, your mind and body are equipped for when the pressure moments come.
