Anxiety is a complex emotional state associated with heightened physiological arousal. Despite its generally negative connotation, the impact of golf anxiety on performance can vary, resulting in positive, negative, or negligible effects. This variability is contingent on factors related to both the athlete and the specific task at hand.
Two years ago, I participated in Open Qualifying at Lindrick Golf Club. Despite a successful practice round the day before (I shot level par), things changed drastically on the day of competition. Despite arriving well-prepared and feeling good during my warm-up, I stepped onto the first tee and my arms suddenly felt heavy and numb. I lost control of my swing and started with a double bogey. Reflecting on this, I realised that my nervousness stemmed from a fear of success rather than the more commonly perceived fear of failure.
