What is mental toughness? Is it being able to grind out a good score when things aren't going so well on the course? Or is it the mental ability to stay strong and committed in spite of distractions and on-course circumstances?
Of course it is both of these things and more. Yet mental toughness isn't something you simply acquire in the spur of the moment or when you "think you need it." No, it's more of an overall mindset. A perspective on the game that allows you to tap another level within your mental game.
Mental toughness is developed and built over time. Once you have a degree of mental toughness, access to it when it matters becomes easier and easier. Like any new skill it habituates over time. An increased inner resolve that generates consistent, confident swings.
Do you have the mental toughness of a 14-year-old-girl? I don't think even Tiger does.
Seriously. Is your golfing mindset solid and committed in the many scenarios that unfold in your game? Do you have as strong a mind as young MacKinzie Kline, the 14-year-old golfing phenom? She is incredibly mentally tough.
She was born with only three valves in her heart and her kidney was on the wrong side of her body. Having gone through several operations in her life, she built a toughness. She went on to qualify for the Women's Amateur at the age of 14. She's already had three aces — and one of them was caught on film!
Yet as she continued to play she began to feel extremely short of breath. She was forced to take an oxygen tank with her as she played and use it between holes. Nothing would stop her from competing. Imagine lugging an oxygen tank around the course with you and remaining focused on each shot!
Concerned, the doctors investigated what might be causing her shortness of breath and discovered she had a hole in her heart which they had missed some time before that. So she underwent another operation.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
So is it safe to say that Tiger Woods doesn't have the heart of a 14-year-old either?
2 - Wade Pearse
yup...hey, maybe it's cuz he doesn't have a hole in his...yeah, that's his problem. if he's gonna compete with her he'll have to puncture his heart. ahhh, he's got heart to spare. he can afford the loss of some...:-)
3 - Bird of Paradise
Nice article. Being from Hawaii we are following our own young golfers (with Michelle Wie being the one in the media spotlight). These young women have "heart" and a great deal of natural and acquired talent. They will do well and provide dollars for themselves and humility for the rest of us for many years to come.
Folks like MacKinzie Kline, however, are remarkable because they have acheived hard-fought physical/atheletic goals in spite of physical handicaps (remember Wilma Rudolph?). Thank you for putting this happy, inspiring little article on blogcritics for us to read and respond.
4 - Wade Pearse
I appreciate your input and comments. It must be interesting the impact Michelle has on Hawaiians. The effects of that level of noteriety, spoken as well as unspoken expectations, must be an enormous weight on her young shoulders. Yet perhaps the gift of youthful naivete` protects her from this.
As someone "inside the ropes" so to speak, I maintain a hopeful/concerned gaze upon her growth and maturity as a player.
As a culture we place a disproportionate level of adoration on gifted athletes. This can often add to the expectations placed on players like Michelle.
I guess this is why I find Mackinzie Kline to be such an inspiration. Just a pure soul harnessing every ounce of her potential and making the best of things.
It will continue to be intriguing and fascinating to watch Michelle and Mackinzie over the years. Yet from a different perspective on each.
I really want to thank you for the mention of Wilma Randolph. In fact I plan to write a webpage on her for my site. A simple webpage won't do her justice but her story warrants at least this.