Tiger’s Drive

The Minneapolis Star Tribune had a terrific article which speaks about Tiger Wood’s tireless work ethic and unorthodox practice habits. Tiger is looking to become the first golfer to win the modern day Grand Slam. In the article woods talks about both the mental and physical aspects of his training which has developed him into a “tougher golfer.”

Some of Wood’s strange practice habits included putting in a basketball gym with the lights half-dimmed and trying to get the ball to stop at half court or the free-throw line. This would prepare woods for some of the faster and more difficult greens he would face later in his career. He also spoke about the psychological tricks that his late father Earl Woods would play on him to make him mentally tougher in his early playing career. Mr. Woods would jingle his change or car keys while Tiger stood over a key putt. Many young players would fold under this type of pressure and added distraction but Tiger was different and thrived under these pressure situations.

Many people have a million ways to explain why some people are great athletes and are able to perform on the highest stages. Woods is a great example of an individual who just outworks the competition. Woods won’t let pressure, fame, injuries or any other distraction get in his way to greatness. In the end it comes down to outworking the competition and never settling for second best.

Woods speaking about why he embraced the added pressures:

"I asked my Dad to do that to me, to make me a tougher golfer, to make me a tougher person, so he did."

"He put me through the same stuff that he had to go through in Special Forces, all the psychology part of it"