Almost every youngster
who picks up a golf club has stars in their eyes, and is convinced that they’ll
be able to emulate their heroes on television by making a glitzy career for
themselves playing the sport they love.
But, as the years tick
by, the realization of how difficult this is to do becomes clearer. And
arguably the demographic which best highlights how challenging it is to make
the step up to the paid ranks are those who beaver away one rung below on the
ladder: top amateurs.
It’s always
fascinating to speak to coaches, former players and rivals of Tour pros, and to
hear how often they express surprise that some guys have “made it”, while other
guys with bags more talent when they were growing up simply couldn’t. The kind
of guys who smashed every record in sight at amateur level, but, when it came
to doing it for a living, simply couldn’t cut the mustard. And, to rub it in,
they had to watch as grinders, and ostensible no-hopers, flew past them to make
a success out of life as a pro.
So, what is the
difference between the guys who cut it as pros, and the rest who must settle
for simply being great amateurs with a day job?
Hard graft
It’s one thing to hit
the range after work, and play at the weekend. But practicing, conditioning,
gym work, short game drills… it’s a full-time job, which requires relentless,
unwavering commitment. Not everyone has it in their locker to stick to, and,
most importantly, enjoy such a monotonous routine. For some guys, staying with
that desk job at the bank can suddenly seem more preferable.
Finding a way in
In the absence of
sponsors’ exemptions, one of the biggest shocks to the system when you turn pro
is finding out just how hard it is to earn that first pay cheque. Never mind
making the cut – you’ll have to pre-qualify just to make it into most events. And
to get to that point, you have to pay your dues on challenge tours and mini
tours. It’s a hard road to the top, and many top amateurs simply don’t have the
stomach for it.
Playing for your bread
One of the biggest
mental barriers is getting to grips with the realities of playing for your
livelihood. It’s one thing trying to hole clutch putts at amateur event. It’s
quite another when your weekly wage depends on it. And when you’re out of form,
there’s no backstop of a steady income (unless it comes from sponsors). That
kind of pressure has broken many a man or woman before, and will continue to
keep amateurs from taking the plunge.
Mental strength
It’s loosely tied to
the point above, but concentration, self-belief and an innate ability to thrive
when the pressure is on is a cocktail that is the preserve of a precious few.
And even then, keeping that up is an ongoing battle. No wonder sports
psychologists and gurus are so widely employed on the Tour. Unlike almost any other sport, golf involves
hitting a still ball. That means instinct plays almost no role in the equation,
and the power of the mind is the key determinant of success instead. When the
chips are down, or when a pressure-filled moment requires a big shot, it’s
those with the clearest minds who deliver. They’re called pros.
Travel
Seeing new places,
staying in nice hotels, becoming a jetsetter. It all sounds like fun on paper.
But in reality, the unstinting travel required wears many a player down, as
does constantly having to adapt to new surroundings, conditions and golf
courses. Being able to enjoy this side of the job is part and parcel of being a
pro. Unfortunately, not everyone does.
A step up in quality
Of course, there is
one final piece of the puzzle: how good you are. Talent isn’t everything, but
it certainly helps. From a ball-striking perspective, there isn’t a lot in it
between a good pro and a top amateur when both parties hit their Sunday bests.
It’s the bad shots where you really notice the difference. The variance in
outcomes between best and worst is simply much smaller, and a pro is able to
establish greater consistency towards the top end of the scale. And that isn’t
just with the long game – the same is true of pitching, chipping and putting. Consistently carving out good scores when not
at your best is fundamental to getting the job done as a pro, and is perhaps
the biggest disparity of all when compared with ammies.
Final thoughts
Ultimately there is no
empirical formula to determine who can make it as a pro, and who will be
consigned to settling for life as a successful amateur. And there are plenty of
exceptions (and other criteria) when it comes to assessing differences between
the two. The point is that, while the gap may seem minimal on the surface,
there’s actually a whole lot of real estate between top amateurs and pros when
you dig a little deeper. And it’s a divide that only a select few will ever
bridge.
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