The Situation I Was In
The shot was an approach from 180 yards on the 17th hole at Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course in Corpus Christi, Texas, circa 1989. I used a 7-iron (I was much longer back then!).
The Shot I Pulled Off
It was the 17th hole at Oso, very short but very tight and very windy course with postage-stamp greens. I was 180 yards out playing to a small, undulating green that was fronted by a finger of water that crossed about half the length of the green. Only about 20 feet behind the green was a cart path, and on the other side of that the 18th tee.
I was trying to break 80 for the first time ever. I needed to play the last two holes in no more than 9 (1-over par) to get in with a 79.
So I stood over the ball in the 17th fairway, hitting to a green that always bedeviled me. And let it rip. And let me tell you, it was "pure." In that moment, I knew exactly what Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods all feel when they strike the ball perfectly. I can still feel the sensation in my memory. And I knew as soon as I hit - I actually said to myself, "Wow," before I'd even lifted my head, immediately after impact. "Wow." I kid you not. That's how good it felt.
And the ball soared high, cutting through the wind, arcing gracefully, drawing slightly - there was never any doubt that ball was going to be tight - and hit the green, took one bounce, and stopped 2 feet from the cup. I'll never forget it. Best shot I ever hit.
Made the putt for a birdie, which meant I only needed to double-bogey No. 18 to have my first-ever sub-80 round. I triple-bogeyed 18. D'oh! But I broke 80 soon after, and I'll always have the memory of that great 7-iron on No. 17 at Oso!
Tips and Tricks
- I've never put much stock in "mental golf" stuff. I'm a grip-it-and-rip-it kind of player. But I knew what was at stake. I had to hit a good shot to put myself in position to break 80. I calmed myself down with a few deep breaths, imagined what I wanted to do, and stepped over the ball feeling confident. Then I didn't dilly-dally over the shot. Once I set up, I pulled the trigger. It's a quick but confident pre-shot routine I've used ever since when I really needed to pull off a shot.
