Mind control must match ball control to prosper on links

In the world of professional golf, there is a saying “there are no pictures on your scorecard”.

Performance is everything and it doesn’t matter how you get there. Therein lies the beauty of this great sport. Some win with swashbuckling flair while others win ugly. Either way a win is a win or, in the case of Major championships, your resolve assumes even greater importance than your flair.

As the first day dawned yesterday at Muirfield, the players would have been fully prepared with a game plan they believed best suited their ability. The majority would have understood the rigours of Major championships, a difficult and challenging course, the long delays and most of all, the requirement for patience.