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 Helped by a preshot routine that sharpens his focus, Davis Love chipped in on the 72nd hole at Hilton Head, leading to OT and another win
By Craig Shankland
Davis Love III hit two spectacular shots on Sunday at the MCI Heritage: a 66-foot chip (above) that he holed for birdie on his last hole of regulation to force a playoff with Woody Austin and a 166-yard six-iron that he stiffed on the fourth extra hole to set up his victory-clinching birdie. The foundation for both pressure-packed shots was the superb practice-swing technique that Love uses from tee to green. While rehearsing, Love maintains his rhythm and concentration by focusing on the target, a routine that has become popular on the PGA Tour. Players used to stare at the ball for up to 10 seconds before pulling the trigger, but now they seem to look at the ball for only a few seconds. Love takes the regimen to an extreme, glancing down for only a blink or two before swinging. He adopted the technique a couple of years ago while working with sports psychologist Bob Rotella, and it has worked wonders. By focusing on the target and not allowing himself to be stationary before hitting, Love doesn't have time to let his mind wander, and he sustains the relaxed flow of his practice swings right into the real thing.
Craig Shankland, 63, teaches at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., and is one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers. Issue date: April 28, 2003
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Courtesy of CBS
