They say “Never meet your heroes”…..
but it’s just NOT true
I won six times which made me incredibly proud, especially the 1999 Italian Open and 2001 South African Open and I twice won at the ultra competitive & extremely nerve wracking Tour Schools just to get onto the European and Japanese Tours.
However, one of the great thrills was to be invited to play an exhibition match with my hero Severiano Ballesteros.
He was the king and what a day it was for me and my twin sister Johanna, who is also a professional golfer.
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Men v Women at the Canon Challenge 1999
The year was 1999 and I was invited to attend the Canon Series of golf events throughout Europe.
This particular event was in the Netherlands and Seve had been invited to attend along with Bernhard Langer and Constantino Rocca for the men with my sister Johanna Mundy, Sofia Gronberg and me for the women.
If you think he looks a bit unhappy in the photo, he was….he’d just hit a shank
Silence.
No one dared say a word and with an expressionless face he put his hand out for his caddy to throw another ball to him.
He proceeded to duck hook the second ball into thick gorse to the left of the tee and embarrassed for him, I looked around to see if anyone was making a comment. I was thinking, hell, this guy is a legend and even HE can hit shots like that………FIRST good lesson.
I saw Seve shank, hook and slice and we still couldn’t beat him!
In thick undergrowth, Seve knocked the ball out and holed the putt for a bogey. The round continued like this with Seve finding every bush, tree and a few different fairways. However, he was always in contention to challenge us for the win and more often than not he would take the hole……..SECOND good lesson.
My first win….I chipped like Seve
Shortly after I played in that match, I won the 1999 Italian Open and it was a week I hardly went to the range at all!
Don’t get me wrong, I practiced as hard as anyone but only on and around the greens. It made me so sharp that I hardly made any bogeys and made important up and downs on par fives for much needed birdies too.
At the end of the week, I had saved countless shots and won by just one shot……and there’s a lesson in there for you too!
PGA Degree Graduation
Birmignham University
Talking of Lessons….here’s how to REALLY get better at golf
So my message is that, yes, the long game matters but in golf you need a complete set of skills.
This takes time, so a lesson programme with a trusted coach and a long term focus is the only real way to get lasting improvement.
What better way to learn from a qualified PGA Coach who has been there and won on tour too?
So if you’re interested in playing your best golf and having a Six Time Tour Winner as your mentor then click here for more information….
