"When the Wind Blows, This Is How to Cope"... 'Strategies of LPGA Players'

Admitting Mistakes, Going with the Wind
Lowering Expectations, Setting Specific Goals

Even world-class players find it difficult to target the hole when strong winds are blowing.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Golf is a difficult sport.

It becomes even more challenging when the wind is added. The ball's spin weakens, and controlling the distance becomes difficult. Putting becomes trickier when strong winds blow. When the wind gusts, it is hard to achieve the expected score. This is true even for world-class players. Golf.com introduced strategies shared by players on the LPGA Tour for playing in strong winds.

◆ Admit mistakes = When the wind blows strongly, the probability of making bogeys increases. It is not easy to make par on long headwind holes. There is no need to blame yourself. A bogey is not a bad score. So-yeon Ryu (32), who has won six LPGA Tour titles including two majors, said, "When the wind is really strong, certain holes can become difficult. I try to have the mindset that making par is good enough. Even if I make a bogey, it’s not bad. You need to be a bit more forgiving to yourself."

◆ Adapt to the wind = Fighting against the wind with force can backfire. If there is a headwind hole, there is also a tailwind hole. Madelene Saxstr?m (Sweden), the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA winner, advised, "Don’t try to fight the wind," and added, "You should think of it as playing with the wind."

◆ Lower expectations = When the wind blows strongly, it is difficult to post your best score. You must accept that the course is not easy. Stacy Lewis (USA), world number one, said, "Above all, you need to change your expectations," and advised, "If every golfer accepts that it is tough to play in strong winds, their mind becomes more at ease."

◆ Set clear goals = Since it is not easy to get the ball close to the hole, you need to set your goals more clearly. Cheyenne Knight (USA), the 2019 America Classic winner, said, "When starting a hole, you must clearly define the starting line and the finish line," and added, "You also need to be careful in choosing your club."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.