Performing In A Hostile Environment
The Ryder Cup starts today. I believe the hostile crowd will be the deciding factor unless our team shows up bulletproof. That is a tall task to be bulletproof when 5,000 people are spewing negativity at you at the top of their lungs for three days. It is the opposite of the “golf clap” at this event and European fans understand their impact and relish it.
I’m sure some of you feel like your work or life environment is hostile as well. How do we combat that to succeed? We must create an inner voice that is louder than all the other noises in the environment.
I had an NBA player that was a horrendous free-throw shooter. We were heading into the playoffs and were to play against the coach that created the concept of “hack a shak”—intentionally fouling the poor free throw shooter starting in the first minute of the game and continuing throughout the game. I took him to the free throw line and asked if he was ready to practice being loud in his mind as I spoke things to him that he would hear from the hostile crowd. He said he was ready and I let it rip. It shocked him. It caught him off guard, but he finally got it and worked very hard at allowing his routine and internal thoughts to drown out my voice. We swept the series and he succeeded as they intentionally fouled him throughout. He punished their coach for trying to expose him. You just have to be ready.
In the Ryder Cup matches, Koepka will be mercilessly booed for being the only competitor from the LIV Tour, Brian Harmon will be attacked for his 13 waggles (I anticipate the crowd will count to harass him), the fans will be relentless with our rookies working to get in their heads, and they will be all over Justin Thomas for his poor play this year. If each of these guys can be louder in their minds than the relentless crowd we may win our first Ryder Cup on foreign soil in 30 years. Zack Johnson, our coach, has worked with a sport psychology colleague of mine for 20 years. I am counting on him to speak greatness into our guys at just the right time and in just the right way.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble; but take heart I have overcome the world.” - John 16: 33
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