At the tender ago of 21 years old, Jordan Spieth won wire-to-wire the Master’s tournament. For those who are not familiar with the game of golf, he is the second youngest player to have ever won this tournament in its 78_year history. Only Tiger Woods was younger than Spieth, which by the way, by only a few days.
It is very difficult to win a grand slam tournament and even more difficult to do so in his only second attempt. It was surely a remarkable achievement!!
In the many interviews that he conducted, he was frequently asked about the mental approach used to win the Masters. With an attitude that resembles that of a matured player, Jordan explained that he stuck with two basic, but strong strategies: 1. to stay fully focused on each specific target; 2. set a goal and stick with it.
To have a mental plan before the competition starts is often the difference between being well prepared or not. Athletes spend an enormous amount of time practicing and perfecting their skill levels; they devote a very conscientious effort to staying fit by eating very health. They also hire professional trainers to specifically work on the physical demands that the sport requires. But, it is often the mental side of sports that differentiates one talented player from another.
Well prepared athletes know that they need to have a mental map to guide them in every single facet of competition. Whether they are ahead or behind other competitors, the mental plan helps athletes to remain focused on the task in front of them in order to avoid mental distractions that may lead to performance errors.
To build a mental edge, plan a mental plan.
1. To be well prepared, build a mental plan that will work whether you are on the winning or losing side. It will help you to remain on task.
2. Remain positive throughout the competition. Take one step at the time and create mini-targets that will help you to mentally fully stay in the game.