Pádraig explains mental approach

THEY dream of donning the famous Green Jacket from childhood and their imaginations wander to the winning putt on Augusta National’s 18th hole during every trip to the practice range.

Yet once a player actually earns as invitation to the Masters, and then becomes a genuine contender, choosing the right moment to visualise that crowning moment of glory becomes a question of timing.

Psychology plays an important part in the way athletes prepare for their performances, and that process intensifies the higher the stakes become.