Why COVID-19 May Actually Help Some Players

I know, it's a ordinary notion. But at some point of the primary spherical of THE PLAYERS on Thursday there has been a few talk about how difficult it's far to 'find something' right now of the season, in the course of the run to the majors. And that got me to questioning...

At this factor we're going through at the least 5 weeks with out golf -- it's the four weeks cancelled with the aid of the PGA Tour plus the postponement of the Masters. That's five weeks while players are not simplest free of the obsessive drive to play properly in majors, but they're additionally freed from the continuous scrutiny that comes from working on swing adjustments at the same time as beneath the televised glare of the enthusiasts.

Five weeks is longer than most of those players take as an off-season, so the capacity to deal with the troubles of their games with out the stress to perform might be an unexpected blessing.

I've recognized at least five players who could pop out of this enforced layoff stronger than before.

• At the top of my list is Jordan Spieth. The Golden Boy's struggles have been endlessly documented and debated over the last couple of years; I think an unplanned break like this one could provide the privacy he needs to collect his thoughts and simply make changes without the need to waste needed practice time traveling to yet another public dissection of his problems.
• Close behind him is Rickie Fowler, plagued by the one unexpected big number that ruins an otherwise commendable round. There have been so many changes in his life over the last few months that he has a number of things to deal with... and ironically, if the speculations are correct, COVID-19 might finally allow him to get over the sickness that has plagued him since just before the Hero Challenge.
• Not struggling as much but still off his regular form, Justin Thomas has also struggled with an unusual number of wild shots that seem to come from nowhere during his rounds. A chance to take a spring break of sorts, with no important events demanding he show up in order to remain high in the rankings, could serve as a breather in which to slow down and regain his normal rhythm.
• Are you surprised to see Brooks Koepka on my list? His knee injury has clearly had an effect on his mental game as much as it did on his physical wellbeing. A few weeks during which he can rebuild his confidence without putting undue pressure on his game could pay big dividends later this year. Especially in the majors.
• Finally -- and perhaps surprisingly to many of you -- I would add Rory McIlroy to this list. After seven Top5 finishes all would seem well with his game, and I would agree... as long as you're talking about his technique. We all know that Rory has been aiming toward Augusta, and I can't help but feel that his failure to close out more tournaments lately is the result of trying too hard. I think that having the certainty of a date for the Masters ripped away from him, as it was on Friday, may let him get back into the mindset of focusing only on the event at hand, rather than the one that has been eluding him for so long.

Under no circumstances am I saying that the COVID-19 virus is a good thing nor am I making light of the pandemic we're facing. But history has proven that, as we rise to deal with such evils, sometimes even the worst situations provide us with unexpected benefits somewhere down the road.

Perhaps we've all taken an excessive amount of for granted, and a heavy dose of fact -- painful as it's miles going to be -- is something we want. Life is precious and a ways greater vital than any sport. And as soon as this pandemic is beyond and we take into account what is actually crucial, we simply may additionally locate the sport itself extra enjoyable.