| What is mental toughness? Is it being able to | | | | |
| grind out a good score when things aren't | | | | She has a mental toughness that keeps her in |
| going so well on the course? Or is it the | | | | her game and completely centered in each |
| mental ability to stay strong and committed | | | | moment. Regardless of the circumstances. She |
| in spite of distractions and on-course | | | | has decided to play with a mindset that says, |
| circumstances? | | | | "I determine how I feel and how I'll perform, |
| | | | not the other player or what might be |
| Of course it is both of these things and | | | | happening around me." MacKinzie Kline's |
| more. Yet mental toughness isn't something | | | | mindset is the epitome of what mental |
| you simply acquire in the spur of the moment | | | | toughness is. |
| or when you "think you need it." No, it's | | | | |
| more of an overall mindset. A perspective on | | | | It's almost routine to watch some frustrated |
| the game that allows you to tap another level | | | | whiner on the course toss his club 20 yards |
| within your mental game. | | | | down the fairway after a bad shot. Or |
| | | | complain about all the bad breaks they get, |
| Mental toughness is developed and built over | | | | why the bunker wasn't raked properly, how the |
| time. Once you have a degree of mental | | | | cup wasn't cut right, and on and on. Player |
| toughness, access to it when it matters | | | | after player, when faced with some adversity, |
| becomes easier and easier. Like any new skill | | | | fold like a cheap suit and succumb to the |
| it habituates over time. An increased inner | | | | inertia of their own inner weakness. |
| resolve that generates consistent, confident | | | | |
| swings. | | | | And then there's this 14-year-old girl with |
| | | | only three valves in her heart with more |
| Do you have the mental toughness of a | | | | character and heart than any of us could hope |
| 14-year-old-girl? I don't think even Tiger | | | | to have. |
| does. | | | | |
| | | | Mental toughness is a state of mind that |
| Seriously. Is your golfing mindset solid and | | | | keeps your attention on each task. Each shot. |
| committed in the many scenarios that unfold | | | | Each moment. MacKinzie Kline is committed to |
| in your game? Do you have as strong a mind as | | | | her mental game. She is committed to herself. |
| young MacKinzie Kline, the 14-year-old | | | | |
| golfing phenom? She is incredibly mentally | | | | She accepts complete responsibility for her |
| tough. | | | | results and places no blame outside of |
| | | | herself for her circumstances. Amazing. Most |
| She was born with only three valves in her | | | | everyone would agree she has a right to feel |
| heart and her kidney was on the wrong side of | | | | self pity. That doesn't happen with her for |
| her body. Having gone through several | | | | even a moment. Her diminutive stature |
| operations in her life, she built a | | | | disguises a towering mental game giant. |
| toughness. She went on to qualify for the | | | | |
| Women's Amateur at the age of 14. She's | | | | She chooses how she'll experience herself on |
| already had three aces - and one of them was | | | | the golf course. Knowing mental toughness is |
| caught on film! | | | | a decision. A commitment to an inner ideal |
| | | | that is bigger then the outcome of any one |
| Yet as she continued to play she began to | | | | shot, or game. She chose to accept ownership |
| feel extremely short of breath. She was | | | | of her internal state and how she'll perform. |
| forced to take an oxygen tank with her as she | | | | |
| played and use it between holes. Nothing | | | | Tiger is unquestionably the dominant force in |
| would stop her from competing. Imagine | | | | the game and is so mainly because of his |
| lugging an oxygen tank around the course with | | | | mental toughness. Yet I would place young |
| you and remaining focused on each shot! | | | | MacKinzie Kline along side him any day if |
| | | | forced to choose the mental game giants in |
| Concerned, the doctors investigated what | | | | golf. |
| might be causing her shortness of breath and | | | | |
| discovered she had a hole in her heart which | | | | It sure makes our own weakness on the course |
| they had missed some time before that. So she | | | | seem pathetic, doesn't it? |
| underwent another operation. | | | | |