Leaderboards iconLeaderboards Become a Member iconBecome a Member Shop iconShop , external transformedLinkTrade In iconTrade In , external transformedLink
quick coaching

Lessons Learned from Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko: Stay The Course

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Jordan Spieth lines up a putt on the fourth green during the final round of Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course on April 04, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

This past weekend at the LPGA Tour’s ANA and the PGA Tour’s Texas Valero Open, we saw two of the games most celebrated stars of recent years reestablish their place at the top of the game.
More from PGA
image
A Tip from a PGA Coach to Make More Putts like Lydia Ko
image
How to Stay 'In The Zone' Like Lydia Ko Did During Final Round of the ANA Inspiration
With Jordan Spieth’s win in Texas, and his steady play over the past few weeks, he has quickly become a favorite once again going into this week’s Masters Tournament. Lydia Ko may have not won the ANA but certainly gave wire-to-wire winner Patty Tavatanakit a scare on Sunday with her 10-under par 62.
Both Jordan and Lydia, former number ones in the world, and major champions, have had very public struggles in recent years. Many have speculated on why this may have been the case and the question on when Jordan and Lydia would be back, if ever, was a common one asked.
What can we learn from Jordan and Lydia as they start to find their form again? The answer, is plenty...
Now, it goes without saying that both of these stars have a strong team behind them, play this game for a living and have much more at stake then many of us do.
As golfers that love the game however, and golfers that likely have peaks and valleys, with great stretches followed by a “What was that?” round, we do indeed care and surely have plenty of our own reasons to try and find what we had and suddenly lost.
For many of us, the journey to better starts with seeking the expertise of a PGA Professional to help coach and guide us down a path towards improvement. This is not always an easy path for most. I talk to my students a lot about this. The phrase “Trusting the Process” is one I use quite often and really one, as a coach, I live by. Getting out of a slump, making a conscious decision to improve and creating a plan to get better at the game takes time, dedication and trust.
The choice to do this is not much different from what both Jordan and Lydia make, and the vast majority of Professional golfers make on a regular basis.
Spieth told ESPN on Monday, after his victory in Texas, and his long road back to the winner's circle...
"For me, it was taking ownership and this is what happened. I believe in my team. They have proven themselves to be the best in the world, and how can we all get a little bit better through this and what steps are we going to take forward to be able to feel this momentum together as we start to make progress in the right direction, and then believing that's happening.''
I had the chance to catch up with Lydia Ko today and I asked her if doubt ever crept in, while going through this drought and working through swing changes...if so, what did she do or say to herself to keep focused on the process of getting back to where she knew she should be?
“I just try to focus more on the aspects of the things I'm working on and try to make sure I have good communication going with Sean,” Ko said.
The Sean she was referring to is her new Coach, Sean Foley.
Focus, ownership, trust...these are the things Jordan and Lydia, as some of the best in the game, lean on when working their way back into form. These are exactly the same things you should be working on too when finding your way back, working through changes with your coach or simply when trying to improve in general.
Oh, and by the way, if you don’t have a coach, you should consider it. Finding one in your area is as easy as searching here on PGA.com.
I asked Lydia what advice she would give the average golfer working through a rough patch or changes, and her advice couldn’t be any more spot on...
“I'd just say stay patient and trust the process. We are always at the place we are meant to be, so just believe that you are moving in the right direction”
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon
PGA Home Page
PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, composed of PGA of America Golf Professionals who work daily to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

Follow Us
FacebookXLinkedinInstagramYouTubeTikTok
ExploreFind a Coach Find a Course PGA Events Leaderboard Stories PGA Shop , external transformedLink
ContactContact About Media Center , external transformedLinkPartners
JoinBecome a PGA Member Work In Golf PGA Sections PGA of America Careers , external transformedLink
ImpactPGA REACH , external transformedLinkPGA Inclusion Make Golf Your Thing , external transformedLink
© Copyright PGA of America 2024.
Privacy Policy California Privacy Notice Terms of Service Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information , external transformedLink
Official Technology Services AgencyCapTech