Okay, so I was thinking about Lilia Vu the other day. You know, how she kinda burst onto the scene, won those majors, got to number one. Pretty amazing stuff.
Watching the Pros vs. My Reality
I actually watched some highlights, saw her playing. It looks so smooth on TV, doesn’t it? Like everything just clicks. She had that stretch, winning the Chevron, then the Women’s Open. Made it look easy, almost.
So, that got me thinking about my own game. Big mistake, probably. It always does.
I decided to head out to the local course last weekend. Thought maybe some of that pro magic would rub off. You know how it is.
- Got my bag ready, checked the balls, tees.
- Drove over there, feeling kinda optimistic.
- Did a few practice swings on the range. Felt okay. Not great, but okay.
The Grind is Real
Then I got out on the course. First tee shot? Decent. Okay, maybe today’s the day, I thought.
Fast forward to the 5th hole. Par 4. Dogleg right. My nemesis.
I stepped up. Took a practice swing. Felt the pressure. Tried to remember Lilia Vu’s tempo. Bad idea. My brain just went blank. I swung way too hard. Snap hook straight into the trees. Gone. Had to drop another ball.
Next shot, trying to recover. Thinned it. Skittered across the fairway into the rough on the other side. Then I chunked the chip. Then three putts. Walked off with a triple bogey. Just like that.
It’s crazy how mental golf is. You watch someone like Lilia Vu handle the pressure, make the big putts. It makes you appreciate it more. Because when I’m out there, one bad shot and my head just goes. It’s a real battle.
Honestly, it’s mostly just me against myself out there. Seeing the pros, it’s inspiring, sure. But it also reminds me how tough this game really is, especially between the ears. They make it look like a walk in the park sometimes, but man, playing it yourself tells a different story. It’s a grind. Always learning, always trying. Mostly failing, if I’m being real. But still, you go back out there next time. Weird game.
