Is It Easier to Chase?

Since we have a Monday finish for the rain-shortened Zurich Classic -- and therefore a Tuesday Limerick Summary -- we would as nicely test a popular debate...

Gerina Pillar came up short on Sunday as Jenny Shin blasted past everybody to get her first win at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout. Her 4-under 67 gave her a two-stroke victory over Gerina, Amy Yang and Mi Jung Hur.

Which begs the question... is it really easier to chase than to lead?

Gerina stumbled proper at the start with a bogey. Her game didn't resemble her play in the first 3 rounds at all. And the climate made it tough -- of the 4 players who were chasing her, Yang and Hur could most effective manage even par and Sei Young Kim, who's considered a more in-depth, was 3-over for the round. Only Jenny Shin went under par, and that by means of loads.

I'm not so sure that whether you lead or chase makes a difference. Rather, it's your mindset during the round. Gerina might say the win didn't matter, but her tears at the end told a different tale. Players do press sometimes, whether they're leading or not. Judy Rankin said some of Gerina's club choices seemed conservative to her; perhaps that indicated an attempt NOT to press. But you might argue that the falloff in her accuracy -- both in fairways and greens -- was the result of more tension. And Gerina is also in the run for a position on the Olympic and International Crown teams.

Likewise, Yang and Kim were additionally fighting for spots on their country wide groups in addition to the win.

Jenny become close to tears as properly -- tears of pleasure. But check out her feedback after the win:

?I think I?Ve been in competition so in many instances that I?Ve form of discovered how to music it out. I?M not certain I can repeat it exactly the same if I have a risk subsequent time. I suppose each yr I grow to be a higher player and I get a bit bit more revel in. And I suppose I?Ve gotten a lot out of it whenever I go through this, so optimistically next 12 months could be better, the year after that will be better.?

Familiarity with the position is something players often mention as a factor in their first win. But Shin went further:

?I turned into chasing the leader all week so searching at the leaderboard didn?T get me anxious in any respect. I practiced a variety of 3 footers the primary two days due to the fact I saved hitting it too some distance past, and I recognize that I?Ve made almost each single considered one of them in order that sincerely helped me with my self belief and I had numerous them coming down the ultimate six holes. So as quickly as I made the first one, I went okay, I know I?Ll make the second one and make the third one so it turned into accurate.?

It's interesting to note that Jenny said on TV that she thought she was only ONE shot ahead while playing the 18th, so she should have felt MORE pressure there. But two of these comments jump out at me, comments which may help explain her apparent calm during the final round.

?I assume I?Ve been in rivalry so often that I?Ve kind of learned a way to track it out."

and

?I changed into chasing the leader all week so looking on the leaderboard didn?T get me frightened in any respect."

There's a running debate on Morning Drive about whether you should look at the leaderboard or not. Charlie Rymer advises against watching the leaderboard -- a position that many sports psychologists would agree with -- while many of the players insist that you need to watch the leaderboard so you can adjust your strategy in case someone 'makes a move'.

I confess that I have some issues with that remaining stance just from common sense -- specifically, if Bubba drives a par-4, finding out that I need to respond isn't always going to give me a further 30 yards off the tee. I'm either looking to put up the excellent score I can or I'm questioning too much approximately different gamers' games... And not enough about mine. But there may be an unspoken perception in BOTH of those stances that I accept as true with is defective, a notion that Jenny Shin does not have.

What is that unspoken belief? That looking at the leaderboard DEMANDS a response, that looking will either cause you to react in fear or somehow elevate your game.

Jenny Shin had neither response. She tuned it all out and didn't let it affect her strategy at all. In Jenny's mind, she was going to post the best score she could and the burden was on the others to beat HER!

It failed to depend to Jenny whether or not she changed into leading or chasing. What mattered become that she turned into in competition and that she depended on her sport. Read her remarks above over again; it's hard to overlook that confidence! But it become a easy self belief, not some "I've were given it now" bravado -- word that she says she's not even certain she could duplicate it subsequent time. She knew her game became there this week and he or she may want to trust it, so the opposite players could need to fear approximately her -- no longer the opposite way round.

I don't suppose it topics whether or not you are main or chasing.

I don't think it matters whether or not you have got a massive cushion for a lead or whether you're trailing by one or two or six.

I just suppose it's simpler to win while your recreation is in proper shape and you comprehend it. Give me quiet self assurance any day!