How Does Golf Psychology Keep You From Choking?

You know what’s crazy? You’ll miss a four-footer for par…But after the hole’s over? You roll that same putt in like it’s automatic. So what changed? It’s not the stroke. It’s the story in your head. Dr. Jeremy Jamieson, a psychologist at the University of Rochester, says most golfers don’t choke because they’re stressed — they choke because they’re stressed about being stressed. Your racing heart? Sweaty palms? That’s not weakness. That’s your body gearing up to perform. Performance coach Jim Murphy says the real fear isn’t the putt — it’s what missing means. Rejection. Judgment. Ego. Here’s the fix: Stop trying to calm down. Instead of thinking, “Why am I nervous?” Think, “Good. My body’s ready.” The best way to handle nerves on the golf course? Accept them. Because the moment you stop fighting the feeling…The hole stops looking like a thimble.