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No rest for the weary
Leta Lindley, 28, is in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour. She had her best year in 1999 with a tie for second, as well as four other top 10 finishes. In 1997, she finished second at the LPGA Championship, losing to Chris Johnson on the second hold of a sudden-death playoff. She was a four-time All-American at the University of Arizona and set an NCAA record for lowest 54-hole score (nine under par). Check out Lindley's diary each Wednesday on CNNSI.com.
August 2, 2000 Wow. What a week off, if you can call it that. After the U.S. Open, I flew to St. Louis for a pro-am last Monday. I went home to West Palm on Tuesday, then flew out Wednesday to San Diego to work with Lud for the rest of the week. I flew home to West Palm on Sunday, then I left on Monday for St. Louis again, where this week's tournament is. That's probably why I feel crazy right now.
Lud was great, as always, but I was grumpy. I think it's because I need rest. I need a vacation from my vacation. I'm trying to get back into my positive, upbeat state. It was probably hard for Lud to deal with me. I tried to be a receptive student, but in some ways I feel like when I'm on the road, I can't be myself. I have to have this positive attitude, but sometimes I just want to let it all go, to be myself -- whoever that is -- for one day. And I didn't have that one day. I've just played such a full schedule. My weeks off haven't even been weeks off. I didn't even have time to spend at my home, which is really just a temporary home anyway. It's been hard. It's important to have time off so you can come back feeling refreshed. But I had to make a choice and I'm glad I went to see Lud. The work with Lud was good. We worked really hard, twice-a-day like last time. He was pleased and impressed with my progress the three weeks I had been away. He could tell I had been working hard on what we had been doing. We picked up where we left off from three weeks ago. We worked on the next step, sort of a continuation of the move. It's so small. Everything in the swing happens so fast. It can take a couple buckets just to pick up on the feel, and it can be very frustrating. But when you get it, it's like Eureka! That's what we work so hard for, the little light bulb, and I had a few, so that was good. We needed to do it. My golf swing will be better for it in the long run, but whether I'm better for it physically and mentally right now, I'm not sure. I know I've made progress with my swing, although it may not be great this week or next. But I know with all my heart, body and soul that I will be better for having done this work with Lud. I'm excited about the direction we're going in. So here I am, back for another tournament feeling a bit frazzled. This week's goal is to go see a movie or do something just for me. It's a three-day tournament, so I should have most of one day off (the day I'm not playing in a pro-am, since there are two). I'm thinking of having a massage. I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude right now. It's one thing to go out and hit 10 buckets of balls and work on your swing and it's another thing to play on a course. But if my long game isn't quite sharp enough, I'm hopeful that my short game can get me around. —Leta THE MAILBAG:
I enjoy your commentary each week and I got to see you play on Thursday at the Wykagyl course. You really look as if you love the game and are happy to be there. Keep up the good play and please keep up the writing. I would have liked to mentioned to you in person how much I look forward to your commentary, but I was unsure when to do so. I didn't want to interrupt your work or focus. When is a good time to talk to the pros? Obviously, people are more relaxed early in the week, on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. But if you don't have the chance to get to the course then, I'd say the best time is after the player has finished her round. It's more difficult when you're trying to prepare for the day. You're in competition-golfer mode. But once competition is over, we're more happy to answer questions and talk. I think we will do it before as well, but we probably prefer after the round.
Being one of your fans, I followed you at the Jamie Farr Classic for most of a day. After watching you go through the same pre-shot routine for every shot, I noticed that you tilt your head slightly to the right before starting your swing. I must do this to the left because I have a strong dominate right eye. Is that the reason for your tilting of your head? On the lighter side, what is the story with the big Rhino driver head cover? My rhino's name is Scud, after a scud missile. The rhino is just my mascot. My housing family in Michigan turned me onto the rhinoceros -- they are strong, they go charging at their goal and they don't let obstacles get in their way. So in some way, that's how I want to be on the course, and I have the head cover to remind me. As for tilting my head, it's so my head is in a better position when I turn away from the golf ball, so it's pointing in the right direction. It helps me get behind the ball, it has nothing to do with my eyesight.
I read coach Todd McCorkle's diary on CNNSI.com throughout the University of Arizona's NCAA championship year, and was intrigued particularly with the performance of Jenna Daniels. Is she the real deal? Would it be fair to say she's the next big star to hit the LPGA? That's a hard question. I've only met Jenna a couple of times. She was obviously the leader of the NCAA championship team. I've read about her determination and hard work. She's gutsy. She has all the tools to be a successful professional golfer. Obviously, I have to say the level of competition on tour is tougher than in college, but her accomplishments are amazing. If that's any indication, then she has a bright future ahead of her. But it's always interesting to see people make the transition. Everything is more intense on the tour. In college, you may only play eight or nine or 10 events a year, whereas I play 27-30. I think she's got a bright future. Whether she's the next Karrie Webb or Annika Sorenstam remains to be seen.
Hi Leta! I've been reading your diary for quite some time now and love following your progress and reading your column. I am just starting to play in some amateur events (just played my first one and shot 75-85). I want to know what you think the most important thing is to be able to succeed in amateur golf. I practice a lot, play as much as I can, but rarely play with any pressure or competition. That tournament showed me that I have a long way to go, but that I can compete. Any words of wisdom I could take with me during tournaments? The first thing I would say is work on your short game. Most people don't work on their chipping and putting enough. The other thing to watch is course management, the decisions you make on the course -- knowing when you're in trouble and how to take your medicine. In some ways it's playing within your means: playing smart when you have to and playing aggressive when you can. Strategy is important. And of course, it helps to have money on the line, so the more opportunity to put your game under pressure, the better off you're going to be. That way, you won't be out of your comfort zone for the first time in a year.
Briefly, what was the breakthrough with your teacher? Swing plane, transition, or something more subtle?
I'd best describe what we've been working on as swing plane. Making sure the club starts on one plane and finishes on the same plane. It's very difficult. I don't always do it right, but more and more I am. When you stay on plane, you're going to hit your best shot and it's going to be straight. So that's pretty important!
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