It takes hours of practice, extreme determination and a lot of skill to contend in what many people believe to be the most pressurised Major on the calendar.
But Jason Day has something else to thank for yet another strong showing at the Masters.
The Australian has been using a complex brain training tool to help him get in the zone – and stay there when the pressure builds.
The 25-year-old began using a wireless electroencephalogram, or EEG, in March.
This space-age device straps to his head (see above image) and emits a beep when he is engaging the right side of his brain, known to experts as the side responsible for creativity and attention.
When used in practice and in daily training sessions, it allows Day to predominantly use this on the golf course and learn how to switch on Tiger-like focus at will.
Is the Aussie on to something, or is this just another placebo-fuelled fad? “My mental game has improved 110 per cent since working with this system,” Day told the Australian.
“It teaches me how to get in the zone, shows me what it feels like when I’m in the zone and allows me to work on replicating it.
“If the computer shows I’m using my right brain then I know I am focused.”
As someone who has struggled with the mental side of the game since he broke onto the PGA Tour – he’s been through two sports psychologists in as many seasons – Day believes turning to technology is the right thing to do.
“It was very difficult for me to measure my mental game before as I’d hit a shot feeling great over it and it would be good but feeling the same on the next one I’d cut the hell out of it,” he said.
Advertisement
“A mental coach would just say the process was better on one or you were thinking positive thoughts but I had a hard time always believing that – this is actually measurable.”
Is the Aussie on to something, or is this just another placebo-fuelled fad? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.
