When Zach Johnson won the Masters last weekend, I heard several "experts" say that Johnson's performance was special because he wasn't intimidated by Tiger Woods.
I initially thought...that's a fucking stupid statement. Golf isn't a one-on-one game; it's you vs. the course. Why would anyone be intimidated by another player, when that player's game really has no direct effect on your ability to play the course?
But then I thought...there might be something to it. It is you vs. the course, but you're still competing with other players to shoot the best score. You may never actually see your closest opponent while on the course, but you could still feel pressure from him and, in the case of a guy like Tiger, just his presence.
Having never played golf, I don't have any firsthand experience...so I wonder what you all think. Can a golfer actually be intimidated by another golfer, even though it's not a head-to-head sport? Or is the only intimidation produced by the course and the overall situation, regardless of who's with you on the leaderboard?
I initially thought...that's a fucking stupid statement. Golf isn't a one-on-one game; it's you vs. the course. Why would anyone be intimidated by another player, when that player's game really has no direct effect on your ability to play the course?
But then I thought...there might be something to it. It is you vs. the course, but you're still competing with other players to shoot the best score. You may never actually see your closest opponent while on the course, but you could still feel pressure from him and, in the case of a guy like Tiger, just his presence.
Having never played golf, I don't have any firsthand experience...so I wonder what you all think. Can a golfer actually be intimidated by another golfer, even though it's not a head-to-head sport? Or is the only intimidation produced by the course and the overall situation, regardless of who's with you on the leaderboard?
